The Town Files

Bedford County, Virginia

80,894 people. The median home is worth $297,400 (typical Virginia town: $298,050) and the median household earns $78,937.

Towns in Bedford County

Towns in Bedford County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Forest11,709$319,800$81,55239.2
Bedford6,657$222,500$70,28844.6

People and housing

Bedford CountyTypical Virginia town
Median home value$297,400$298,050
Median rent$952$1,254
Median household income$78,937$78,595
Median age47.239.8
Bachelor's degree or higher33.7%31.2%
Below the poverty line8.1%8.8%

Jobs and pay

18,602 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,340 a year.

Largest industries in Bedford CountyHealth care & social assistan…2,434 jobs · $51,939Retail2,374 jobs · $35,117Manufacturing1,892 jobs · $62,444Hotels & restaurants1,606 jobs · $22,707Construction1,304 jobs · $58,454Professional & technical serv…1,053 jobs · $59,762
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Bedford County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 2.9%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 807 storm events in Bedford County from 1996 to 2026, with 5 deaths.

Storm events in Bedford County by type since 1996Hail171Flood22Drought19Tornado12High Wind35Ice Storm13Lightning22Heavy Rain19Heavy Snow20Flash Flood59
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Bedford County has been included in 28 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 23, 2026Winter StormEM-3631: Severe Winter Storm
April 4, 2025Severe StormDR-4863: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding
October 1, 2024Tropical StormDR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene
September 29, 2024Tropical StormEM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene
May 10, 2021Severe Ice StormDR-4602: Severe Winter Storms
April 2, 2020BiologicalDR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).