Bedford, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Bedford, Kentucky had a total population of 386, the 389th largest city in Kentucky, with a median household income of $41,875, which is 34% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 26.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 34% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (26.4%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 2.8% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x.
Bedford Quick Facts
How Bedford Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 289 | 386 | +33.6% |
| Median household income | $33,750 | $41,875 | +24.1% |
| Median home value | $81,100 | $95,800 | +18.1% |
How Bedford Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 33 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Bedford Rankings in Kentucky
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Other Cities in Trimble County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milton | 637 | $62,500 | 7.1% | $156,700 |
Cities Similar to Bedford
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallins Creek | 383 | N/A | $177,500 | 0.0% | 2.6% |
| McHenry | 385 | $40,000 | $96,100 | 5.1% | 21.6% |
| Kenvir | 358 | N/A | $74,400 | 3.5% | 44.7% |
| Maceo | 418 | N/A | $145,500 | 0.0% | 2.1% |
| Centertown | 371 | $46,563 | $94,100 | 8.4% | 18.6% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 386, Bedford's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Bedford is a small community located in Kentucky, within Trimble County. The total population is 386. It ranks as the 389th most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.
Age Demographics
The median age in Bedford is 43.6 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Bedford is $41,875. This is 34% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 48% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.4%. This is 65% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $95,800. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Bedford is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 39.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 42% lower than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Bedford has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.6%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 7.5%.
Education
2.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 90% lower than the state rate of 27.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 70.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Bedford, Kentucky is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Kentucky state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Bedford, Kentucky?
Bedford, Kentucky has a population of 386 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Bedford, KY?
The median household income in Bedford is $41,875, which is 48% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Bedford, KY?
The poverty rate in Bedford is 26.4%. This means approximately 102 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Bedford, Kentucky?
Bedford's population is 88.9% White, 0.8% Black, 3.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Bedford, KY?
The median home value in Bedford is $95,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.3x.
How educated is Bedford, Kentucky?
2.8% of adults (25+) in Bedford hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.