HomePennsylvaniaBedford County
Bedford County, Pennsylvania: commercial real estate data.
Bedford County, Pennsylvania had an estimated 47,643 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 47,576, across 1,012 square miles. County output reached $2.04 bn in 2024, 1,080 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 25 7(a) approvals worth $13.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Bedford County
How many people live in Bedford County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202447,513
- Households19,750
- Average household size2.41
- Median household income$59,992
- Median age47.5
- Median gross rent$784 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$179,000
- Home value to household income3.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher16.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over34,994
- Population under 189,234
- Share under 1819.4 percent
- Population 65 and over11,391
- Share 65 and over24.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6426,888
- Civilian labor force22,625
- Unemployment rate3.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over59.1 percent
- Rank by population among Pennsylvania counties45th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1051st of 3,222
Bedford County is the 45th largest of 67 Pennsylvania counties by population. A median home costs 3.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 24.0 percent against 19.4 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Bedford County
Is Bedford County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202447,643
- Census 2020 base population47,576
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.14 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024201
- Births, 2024470
- Deaths, 2024545
- Natural change, 2024-75
- Net domestic migration, 2024176
- Net international migration, 2024104
- Total net migration, 2024280
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024662
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1778th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.14 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Bedford County
Where are people moving to Bedford County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving761
- People arriving, from those returns1,334
- Tax returns filed by households leaving730
- Net household movement31
- Adjusted gross income arriving$45.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$11.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$59,769
- Average income of a leaving household$46,308
- Largest single originBlair County (158 households)
- Largest single destinationBlair County (152 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blair County | 158 | 281 | $7.8 m |
| Huntingdon County | 48 | 94 | $1.9 m |
| Allegany County | 44 | 83 | $2.6 m |
| Cambria County | 32 | 54 | $1.1 m |
| Somerset County | 31 | 58 | $1.2 m |
| Fulton County | 28 | 50 | $941,000 |
| Allegheny County | 22 | 32 | $1.2 m |
| Franklin County | 22 | 48 | $1.1 m |
Households arriving report $13,461 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Blair County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Bedford County
What is the Bedford County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.04 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.94 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.1 percent
- GDP change over five years36.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Pennsylvania areas BEA publishes52nd of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1261st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$42,948
Output grew 5.1 percent in the latest year and 36.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Bedford County
Employment by industry in Bedford County
- Covered employment, annual average16,659
- Establishments reporting1,246
- Average annual pay$49,760
- Average weekly wage$957
- Manufacturing, employment2,806
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$72,103
- Retail trade, employment2,186
- Retail trade, average annual pay$31,112
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,921
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$52,141
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,666
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,006
- Construction, employment1,284
- Other services, except public administration, employment522
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,806 | 71 | $72,103 |
| Retail trade | 2,186 | 179 | $31,112 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,921 | 68 | $52,141 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,666 | 100 | $21,006 |
| Construction | 1,284 | 115 | $72,046 |
| Other services, except public administration | 522 | 118 | $32,164 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 431 | 40 | $38,379 |
| Finance and insurance | 330 | 54 | $74,807 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,806 jobs, 16.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Bedford County
How many businesses are in Bedford County?
- Establishments, all industries1,080
- Employment at those establishments13,015
- Annual payroll$593.4 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.7
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Bedford County
Building permits in Bedford County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202471
- Declared construction value permitted$21.1 m
- Single family units authorized71
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$297,145
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.6
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Bedford County
SBA loans in Bedford County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded25
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$13.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$554,180
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$31,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,230,700
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)289
- Jobs per approval11.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active10
- Distinct industries receiving approvals19
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer8.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter22
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals8.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countChild Care Services (4)
- Most active lenderManufacturers and Traders Trust Company (10)
- 504 approvals recorded3
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.7 m
- Average 504 approval$569,667
- Median 504 approval$568,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval7.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.9
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$15.6 m
The average approval of $554,180 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 8.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bedford County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Bedford County
Do SBA loans in Bedford County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure15
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Cancelled6
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 2 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bedford County
SBA lending by place in Bedford County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending12
- Bedford, approvals9
- New Paris, approvals4
- Everett, approvals3
- Manns Choice, approvals1
- Breezewood, approvals1
- Hyndman, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford | 9 | $3,429,500 |
| New Paris | 4 | $1,500,000 |
| Everett | 3 | $245,000 |
| Manns Choice | 1 | $5,000,000 |
| Breezewood | 1 | $3,100,000 |
| Hyndman | 1 | $150,000 |
| Imler | 1 | $140,000 |
| Saxton | 1 | $100,000 |
| 4 other borrower cities | 4 | $190,000 |
Bedford accounts for 9 approvals against 4 in New Paris. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bedford County
How large is Bedford County?
- Land area1,012 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Pennsylvania counties10th of 67
- Width, east to west35.6 mi
- Height, north to south41.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land47
- Establishments per square mile1.07
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Bedford County
Flood risk in Bedford County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book38
- Of those, participating in the NFIP38
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 10
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Bedford County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The EPA places Bedford County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 10, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Bedford County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Bedford County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202447,513
- Households19,750
- Average household size2.41
- Median household income$59,992
- Median age47.5
Common questions
Bedford County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Bedford County, Pennsylvania?
The Census Bureau estimates 47,643 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 47,513, in 19,750 households, ranking 45th of 67 Pennsylvania counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Bedford County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.14 percent since the 2020 census base of 47,576, to 47,643 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 470 births against 545 deaths, with net migration of 280. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Bedford County?
$59,992. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $179,000, which is 3.0 times income, and median gross rent is $784 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Bedford County?
1,080 establishments, employing 13,015 people with an annual payroll of $593.4 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Bedford County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,806 jobs, 16.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 16,659 jobs at an average annual pay of $49,760, or $957 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Bedford County?
25 7(a) approvals totaling $13.9 m since FY2020, across 10 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 3 504 approvals worth $1.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Bedford County?
71 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $21.1 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Bedford County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Bedford County come from?
The largest single origin is Blair County, with 158 households. Arriving households report an average income of $59,769 against $46,308 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Bedford County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Bedford County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Bedford County
Cities and places in Bedford.
19 Census places lie wholly or partly in Bedford County. All 19 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | borough | 2,851 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Everett | borough | 2,052 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Earlston | CDP | 1,259 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hyndman | borough | 850 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Saxton | borough | 791 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Stonerstown | CDP | 430 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Woodbury | borough | 346 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Schellsburg | borough | 342 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wood | CDP | 330 | None recorded | 55.9 percent here, 42.8 percent Huntingdon County |
| Defiance | CDP | 316 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Manns Choice | borough | 315 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| New Paris | borough | 225 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Hopewell | borough | 162 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Clearville | CDP | 161 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Riddlesburg | CDP | 152 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rainsburg | borough | 138 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pleasantville | borough | 128 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. Clairsville | borough | 101 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Coaldale | borough | 58 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 4 of the county's 25 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Bedford County, the largest being Breezewood (1), Imler (1), Osterburg (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.