Bedford
RANK #168 / 996 NAT · #9 / 22 MO · POP 60,172
1YR FORECAST: +4.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +33%
Ongoing infrastructure improvements, particularly the $15.4 million Missouri Route 47 diverging diamond interchange project slated for completion by Fall 2025, are the single biggest catalyst driving real estate demand in Lincoln County. This project, alongside other Route 61 corridor upgrades totaling $36 million through 2027, enhances connectivity to the St. Louis metropolitan area, attracting new residents and businesses. The county's population grew by 1,200 residents between 2023 and 2024, primarily due to domestic migration. This trend is expected to continue, with the population projected to reach 68,250 by 2026.
Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.6x — 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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Great Bend Wind Farm
Triple Oak Power
|
$300M | Planned |
|
Winfield Solar Project
Cordelio Power (with Qcells and Microsoft)
|
$150M | Completed |
|
Pike - Troy 161kV Line Solar Project
Undisclosed (MISO interconnection queue)
|
$150M | Planned |
|
New Ranken Technical College Campus
Ranken Technical College
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Highway 61 and Royal Industrial Parks
N/A
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Lincoln County ranks #168 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 83/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +3.0% and a median household income of $82,543 point to a county with active economic momentum.
By national standards, Lincoln County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $206,800, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.40 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $958/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Lincoln County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +3.0% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +5.4% over the past 12 months.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.45% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Lincoln County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.4% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Lincoln County is now valued at $206,800. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.