RANK #300 / 1001 NAT · #8 / 37 VA · POP 80,894
1YR FORECAST: +1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +20%
Bedford County, Virginia, is often recognized first for the National D-Day Memorial, a significant landmark honoring the sacrifices of World War II, particularly the "Bedford Boys" who suffered heavy losses on D-Day. Located in the Piedmont region at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the county is situated between the cities of Lynchburg (30 minutes east) and Roanoke (40 minutes west), with US Route 460 connecting them. This positioning allows for commuting to both metropolitan areas. The community offers a sparse suburban feel, with natural beauty including the Peaks of Otter and Smith Mountain Lake, providing extensive outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, fishing, and boating.
Life in Bedford County attracts a mix of families, young professionals, and retirees, many of whom own their homes. The public schools are above average, and the county maintains a low cost of living compared to national averages. While historically agricultural, the economy has diversified. Recent economic developments include investments in site development for business and technology centers, and the county actively supports sectors such as manufacturing, nuclear energy, and wireless communications. Agriculture and tourism also remain important economic drivers.
Bedford County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.7% runs above the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 25.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Bedford County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Bedford Solar PV Park I
Orsted Wind Power North America (now owned by Virginia Electric and Power)
|
$70M | Operating |
|
Solarix Solar Module Manufacturing Facility
Solarix
|
$63M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 70/100, Bedford County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.0%, and median household income stands at $78,937 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in VA.
Housing in Bedford County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $297,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $952/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Bedford County's population is growing — up +0.8% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +1.0%). Home values shifted +4.7% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.83% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Bedford County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.