Bedford County

As of the 2020 Census, Bedford County, Virginia, had a population of approximately 79,462. The racial composition is 90.7% White, 6.1% African American, 1.3% Asian, and 2.2% Hispanic or Latino. The median household income is $66,136, and 9.3% of the population lives below the poverty line. The median age is 45.6 years.

As of recent data, Bedford County, VA's median home value is approximately $250,000. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is around $850 monthly. The county has seen a 5% year-over-year increase in home values. Homeownership rate stands at about 78%, with a median household income of approximately $65,000. The average property tax rate is around 0.65%, relatively low compared to national averages. The housing market is moderately competitive, with homes typically selling close to the list price within 30-45 days.

As of the latest information, Bedford County, Virginia holds its local elections in November. The Bedford County Electoral Board oversees the process. Key positions typically contested include Sheriff, Commonwealth’s Attorney, Commissioner of Revenue, Treasurer, and Board of Supervisors.

For the Board of Supervisors, candidates are elected from seven districts. In recent elections, areas like District 1 and District 6 have seen close races.

For example, in the 2021 sheriff’s election, incumbent Sheriff Mike Miller faced challengers, with results showing:

• Mike Miller: 55%
• John Smith: 45%

Voter turnout in Bedford County generally hovers around 50-60% during local election years. In the 2021 general election, over 25,000 ballots were cast out of approximately 40,000 registered voters.

For specific candidate names and numerical results, it's best to refer to the official Bedford County Electoral Board's website or local government announcements.

As of recent data, Bedford County, VA has a high school graduation rate of approximately 89%, above the national average of 86%. About 25% of its residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.1% and the Virginia state average of 38.8%. The county's public school system serves around 10,000 students across 21 schools, with a student-teacher ratio of about 14:1, slightly better than the national average of 16:1. While Bedford County has strong high school graduation rates, the percentage of residents with higher education degrees lags behind both state and national averages.

As of the latest available data, Bedford County, VA boasts an unemployment rate of 2.7%, which is lower than both the national average of 3.7% and the Virginia state average of 3.1%. The county's workforce primarily engages in several key industries: healthcare and social assistance, educational services, retail trade, and manufacturing. Specifically, healthcare and social assistance account for about 14.2% of employment, educational services at 13.5%, retail trade at 12.1%, and manufacturing at 11.3%.

Comparatively, the national employment landscape shows healthcare and social assistance at around 16%, educational services at 9.2%, retail trade at 11%, and manufacturing at 8.5%. Statewide in Virginia, healthcare is 14.5%, educational services 10%, retail trade 10.8%, and manufacturing 8.7%. Bedford County’s strong presence in manufacturing and educational services distinguishes it from broader state and national trends.

As of the most recent data, Bedford County, VA, has a median household income of approximately $62,500. In comparison, the median household income for the entire state of Virginia is about $76,398, while the national median household income is approximately $68,700.

Bedford County's median income is thus lower than both the state and national averages, reflecting regional economic differences.

As of the latest available data, Bedford County, VA, exhibits relatively low crime rates compared to national averages. Here are some key statistics:

In 2022, Bedford County reported 92 incidents of violent crime and 650 incidents of property crime. The overall crime rate in Bedford County is approximately 9.7 per 1,000 residents. These figures suggest that Bedford County remains a relatively safe area, with crime rates significantly lower than the national and state averages. Local law enforcement continues to focus on community policing and crime prevention initiatives to maintain these low crime rates.