The Town FilesBedford, Virginia
Town in Bedford County · population 6,657 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $222,500
- Household income
- $70,288
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 44.6
Bedford is a town of 6,657 people in Bedford County, Virginia. The median home is worth $222,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks hipper than 81% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 72% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 70% of Virginia towns.
How Bedford ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bedford is worth $222,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $70,288, which is more affordable than 75% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $828 a month. 69.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bedford | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $222,500 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $828 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $70,288 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.2% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Bedford
| People | Bedford | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 91.8% |
Weather in Bedford
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 27.8°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.2 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 85 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 27, 2022 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 23, 2016.
Severe weather in Bedford County since 1996
Bedford County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 4, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4863: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| May 10, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4602: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Bedford County
Bedford County had 18,602 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,340 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Bedford itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Bedford
8 public schools with 2,167 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty High | 9-12 | 727 | 13.7 |
| Liberty Middle | 6-8 | 535 | 13.4 |
| Bedford Elementary | 2-5 | 447 | 14.9 |
| Bedford Primary | PK-1 | 289 | 14.5 |
| Otter River Elementary | PK-5 | 169 | 14.1 |
| Governor's Health Sciences Academy | Other | — | — |
| Susie G. Gibson Science and Technology Center | Other | — | — |
| Bedford County Alternative Education Center | Other | — | — |
Towns near Bedford
- Forest, VA13.2 mi · 11,709 people · home $319,800
- Timberlake, VA14.8 mi · 13,267 people · home $235,900
- Blue Ridge, VA17.1 mi · 3,185 people · home $274,500
- Lynchburg, VA18.0 mi · 79,009 people · home $229,800
- North Shore, VA19.2 mi · 3,332 people · home $504,400
- Altavista, VA19.6 mi · 3,378 people · home $142,900
- Vinton, VA21.1 mi · 8,059 people · home $190,900
- Cloverdale, VA21.4 mi · 3,410 people · home $359,900
Bedford questions
Is Bedford, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bedford scores better for retirees than 36% of Virginia towns and quieter than 43%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Bedford?
The median owner-occupied home in Bedford is valued at $222,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,288, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $828 a month.
What is the weather like in Bedford?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 27.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 11.2 inches of snow.
Does Bedford get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 27, 2022. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)