What are the schools like in Bedford, VA?

Bedford is served primarily by Bedford County Public Schools. The district operates 13 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.0:1.

What is the median household income in Bedford?

The median household income in Bedford, VA is $41,154 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.4%.

What is the weather like in Bedford, VA?

Bedford has an average high temperature of 46.9°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 5.9 inches.

Bedford, VA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bedford, VA affordable or expensive?

Bedford's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bedford is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $191,300 and the median rent is $874 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bedford, VA?

Bedford has a violent crime rate of 190.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1569.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bedford, VA a Good Place to Live?

Bedford is a small town of 6,676 in Virginia, with a median household income of $41,154 and a 2.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Bedford stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Bedford is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bedford city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.3

Bedford's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bedford costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bedford, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$191,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$874	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	50.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$41,154	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Bedford's violent crime rate is 190.6 per 100,000 residents — 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

190.6 /100k

Property Crime

1569.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bedford is served primarily by Bedford County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bedford, VA	National Avg
School District	Bedford County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	13	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bedford sees average highs of 46.9°F in January and 86.4°F in July, with 46.3 inches of annual precipitation and 5.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bedford, VA
Average High — January	46.9°F
Average High — July	86.4°F
Annual Precipitation	46.3"
Annual Snowfall	5.9"

Demographics

Metric	Bedford, VA	National Avg
Population	6,676	—
Median Age	40.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	71.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	17.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.0%	18.9%
Asian	3.2%	6.3%
Under 18	20.2%	22.2%
65 and over	19.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Moneta, VA 12 mi Montvale, VA 12 mi Forest, VA 13 mi Timberlake, VA 15 mi Buchanan, VA 16 mi

ZIP Codes in Bedford

Bedford, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

24523

Bedford vs Other Cities

Bedford, VA vs Moneta, VA Bedford, VA vs Montvale, VA Bedford, VA vs Forest, VA Bedford, VA vs Timberlake, VA Bedford, VA vs Buchanan, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bedford, VA affordable or expensive?

Bedford's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bedford roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $191,300 and median rent is $874/month.

What is the crime rate in Bedford, VA?

Bedford's violent crime rate is 190.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1569.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bedford?

Public schools in Bedford are operated by Bedford County Public Schools. The district has 13 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 19.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bedford, VA a good place to live?

Bedford, VA has a population of 6,676, a median household income of $41,154, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bedford?

Bedford averages 46.9°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.3 inches with about 5.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bedford?

Bedford, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24523.

What is the population of Bedford?

The population of Bedford, Virginia is 6,676 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bedford?

Key numbers for living in Bedford: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $191,300, median household income $41,154, crime index 60 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bedford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.