Demographics
Bedford County sits within the Lynchburg MSA while benefiting from workforce access across both the Lynchburg and Roanoke metropolitan areas.
AGE DISTRIBUTION
| Bedford County | Lynchburg MSA | Roanoke MSA | |
| Under 18 years | 15,743 | 51,806 | 63,918 |
| 18 – 24 years | 5,735 | 33,422 | 25,255 |
| 25 – 34 years | 8,470 | 32,647 | 37,900 |
| 35 – 44 years | 8,637 | 28,377 | 38,007 |
| 45 – 54 years | 10,441 | 29,460 | 38,911 |
| 55 – 64 years | 13,048 | 35,736 | 44,293 |
| 65 – 74 years | 11,255 | 30,090 | 38,742 |
| 75 years and over | 7,565 | 22,260 | 27,960 |
| Source: JobEQ September 2026 | |||
POPULATION BY GENDER AND RACE
| Bedford County | Lynchburg MSA | Roanoke MSA | |
| Total | |||
| Total Population | 80,894 | 263,798 | 314,986 |
| Race | |||
| White | 69,252 | 196,940 | 240,895 |
| Black or African American | 5,108 | 42,552 | 40,623 |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 160 | 505 | 836 |
| Asian | 1,044 | 3,736 | 7,839 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0 | 164 | 205 |
| Other | 1,160 | 4,463 | 6,180 |
| Multiple Races | 4,170 | 15,438 | 18,408 |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 2,283 | 9,573 | 17,000 |
| Source: JobsEQ September 2026 | |||
Male versus female makeup across the regions is nearly 50/50.
Labor Force participation
| Civilian Labor Force (civilian population 16 years and over) across both Lynchburg and Roanoke MSAs | 281,305 |
| Prime-Age Labor Force (civilian population 25 – 54) | 167,439 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% |
| Sources: JobsEQ, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
Educational Attainment
Bedford County Schools prides itself on preparing students for employment after graduation. High School students are offered an internship course in which they can work several hours per week at a local industry and hundreds of students tour local industries annually to learn about careers. Plus, the dual enrollment opportunities as well as the CTE and STEM Academy at Central Virginia Community College provide options for students to earn college credit or a certificate of completion for a trade while still in high school.
- Bedford County’s on-time high school graduation rate for the Class of 2020 was 92%, which is nearly equal to the state rate of 92.3%. *Source: Virginia Department of Education
- Over 44% percent of Bedford County residents have a post secondary degree, with more than 35% of them having a bachelor’s degree or higher.
| Age 25-64 | Bedford County | Lynchburg MSA | Roanoke MSA |
| No High School Diploma | 2,723 6.7% | 9,416 7.5% | 10,272 6.5% |
| High School Graduate | 11,638 28.7% | 38,137 30.2% | 49,536 31.1% |
| Some College, No Degree | 8,427 20.8% | 25,845 20.5% | 31,117 19.6% |
| Associate’s Degree | 3,630 8.9% | 11,386 9.0% | 15,542 9.8% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 8,977 22.1% | 26,827 21.3% | 33,896 21.3% |
| Post Graduate Degree | 5,201 12.8% | 14,609 11.6% | 18,748 11.8% |
| Source: JobsEQ September 2026 | |||
