Bedford County, Virginia Demographics 2026
Bedford County, Virginia has a population of 80,894, the 26th most populous county in Virginia. The median household income is $78,937 and the median home value is $297,400. The poverty rate is 8.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Bedford County Quick Facts
How Bedford County 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 | 80,254 | 80,894 | +0.8% |
| Median household income | $77,644 | $78,937 | +1.7% |
| Median home value | $276,600 | $297,400 | +7.5% |
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: 61 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Bedford County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest | 13,430 | $81,552 | 9.6% | $319,800 |
| Bedford | 7,724 | $70,288 | 12.2% | $222,500 |
| Stewartsville | 737 | $94,390 | 12.5% | $217,600 |
| Moneta | 395 | N/A | 25.1% | $232,200 |
| Montvale | 351 | N/A | 15.4% | $255,900 |
| Big Island | 91 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Explore Virginia Rankings
Population Overview
Bedford County is located in Virginia with a total population of 80,894. It is the 26th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Bedford County is 47.2 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Bedford County is $78,937. This is 15% lower than the state median of $93,170. It is also 2% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.1%. This is 19% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $297,400. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $383,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 84.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 67.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Bedford County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 6.3%. The Black or African American population (6.3%) is well below the state average of 18.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.8%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Asian population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 6.9%.
Education
33.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 42.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Bedford County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Virginia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Bedford County, Virginia?
Bedford County has a population of 80,894, making it the 26th most populous county in Virginia.
What is the median income in Bedford County?
The median household income in Bedford County is $78,937 with a poverty rate of 8.1%.
How many cities are in Bedford County, Virginia?
Bedford County contains 6 Census-designated places.