Bedford, VA Demographics

A map of Bedford's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	6,119	4,897	79.2%	73.6%
Black	1,077	1,104	13.9%	16.6%
Multiracial	228	362	3.0%	5.4%
Native American/Other	136	53	1.8%	0.8%
Hispanic	99	193	1.3%	2.9%
Asian	65	48	0.8%	0.7%

Bedford, Virginia has an estimated population of 7,724, a large increase from the 6,657 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 79.2% White, 13.9% Black, 3.0% Multiracial, 1.8% Native American/Other, 1.3% Hispanic, and 0.8% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Bedford, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Bedford has become considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Virginia overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Bedford, that probability was 42.8% in 2020 and 35.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Bedford is ranked the 162nd most populous place in Virginia, out of 688 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Bedford was ranked the 175th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Bedford's White Population

6,119 residents of Bedford, or 79.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Bedford is significantly higher than in Virginia overall, where 58.4% of the population is White. Bedford ranks 333rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bedford's White population has grown by an estimated 25.0%. White residents' share of Bedford's population has increased from 73.6% to 79.2%.

Bedford is more White than neighboring Forest (76.2% White). Bedford is less White than neighboring Moneta (100% White), Montvale (85.2% White), Buchanan (93.3% White), and Big Island (100% White).

Bedford's Black Population

1,077 residents of Bedford, or 13.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Bedford is slightly lower than in Virginia overall, where 18.3% of the population is Black. Bedford ranks 213th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bedford's Black population has declined by an estimated 2.4%. Black residents' share of Bedford's population has decreased from 16.6% to 13.9%.

Bedford is more Black than neighboring Moneta (0% Black), Montvale (0% Black), Forest (12.6% Black), Buchanan (3.5% Black), and Big Island (0% Black).

Bedford's Asian Population

65 residents of Bedford, or 0.8% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Bedford is lower than in Virginia overall, where 6.9% of the population is Asian. Bedford ranks 374th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bedford's Asian population has grown by an estimated 35.4%. Asian residents' share of Bedford's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.8%.

Bedford is more Asian than neighboring Moneta (0% Asian), Montvale (0% Asian), and Big Island (0% Asian). Bedford is less Asian than neighboring Forest (1.8% Asian), and Buchanan (0.9% Asian).

Bedford's Hispanic Population

99 residents of Bedford, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Bedford is lower than in Virginia overall, where 11% of the population is Hispanic. Bedford ranks 445th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bedford's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 48.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Bedford's population has decreased from 2.9% to 1.3%.

Bedford is more Hispanic than neighboring Moneta (0% Hispanic), Buchanan (0% Hispanic), and Big Island (0% Hispanic). Bedford is less Hispanic than neighboring Montvale (12.5% Hispanic), and Forest (3% Hispanic).

Bedford's Native American/Other Population

136 residents of Bedford, or 1.8% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Bedford is comparable to the share in Virginia overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Bedford ranks 262nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bedford's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 156.6%. Native American/Other residents' share of Bedford's population has increased from 0.8% to 1.8%.

Bedford is more Native American/Other than neighboring Moneta (0% Native American/Other), Montvale (0% Native American/Other), Forest (1.7% Native American/Other), Buchanan (0% Native American/Other), and Big Island (0% Native American/Other).

Bedford's Multiracial Population

228 residents of Bedford, or 3.0% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Bedford is comparable to the share in Virginia overall, where 4.7% of the population is Multiracial. Bedford ranks 153rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bedford's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 37.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Bedford's population has decreased from 5.4% to 3.0%.

Bedford is more Multiracial than neighboring Moneta (0% Multiracial), Montvale (2.3% Multiracial), Buchanan (2.3% Multiracial), and Big Island (0% Multiracial). Bedford is less Multiracial than neighboring Forest (4.7% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.