Coleman, House · National Register of Historic Places
Bedford’s story
210 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1825.
6 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1816Bedford is settled
BedfordKY
Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
628
2025 Census estimate · +0.2% since 2020
Typical home
$246K
−0.2% in a year
Household income
$42K
median
Median age
43.6
years
Jobs based here
309
Balanced
Is Bedford a good place to live?
26% of residents live below the poverty line in Bedford, where Kentucky’s towns sit at 16% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. Of the 143 Kentucky towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Bedford. Its National Register listings include William L. Coleman House and Preston House. Bedford has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Bedford stand out
Where Bedford beats most towns.
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Bedford: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Bedford, and how to reach them.
PowerKU11.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTrimble Co Water District #1No health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Bedford’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Kentucky you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTrimble County ClerkTrimble County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code4000640006 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bedford.
Schools
The schools Bedford’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Trimble County school district. Its one school is below. The largest public high school is Trimble County JR/SR High School, with 541 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trimble County JR/SR High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 541 | C |
NCES · EDFacts
Natural hazards
Bedford faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 71% of U.S. communities.
71risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesStrong wind
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Bedford, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Bedford has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 24° and about 12 inches of snow falls in a winter.
12″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter26–43°
Spring44–66°
Summer64–85°
Fall46–67°
Oct 31
typical first frost
Apr 11
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Compared with most of Kentucky and the rest of the country, the average trip to work in Bedford is longer
At 33 minutes, Bedford’s average trip to work is above both the Kentucky town median (22 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). The median household income in Bedford is $42,000. Most working residents leave Bedford for work: only 2% work in town.
2%work in town
| Bedford | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 33 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $42,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.2% | 15% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Bedford2%
Louisville10%
Madison5%
La Grange5%
Buckner3%
24 mi
median commute distance
309
jobs based in Bedford
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
How healthy Bedford is
Bedford beats the Kentucky average on 0 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 14. 21% of adults smoke cigarettes in Bedford.
| Bedford | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 18% | 14% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 27% | 23% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 16% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
31 measures vs. Kentucky
0 better17 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | Bedford | KY |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 8.2% | 5.4% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 21.5% | 15.5% |
| More adults without reliable transportation | 11.8% | 8.8% |
Carroll County Memorial Hospital
10 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
Homes in Bedford are worth about $246K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Bedford home is worth about $246,000, about the same as a year ago, 7% above the Kentucky typical home. 39% of Bedford households own their home.
$246KZillow home value
| Bedford | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 39% | 59% | 73% |
| Median rent | $884 a month | $934 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Bedford$246K
Kentucky$231K
−0.2%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Bedford
18pages on Bedford
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Bedford
About 1 of every 100 Bedford residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Kentucky.
Small town
628 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Landmarks
6 places in Bedford on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Bedford
City in Kentucky, United States
Bedford is a home rule-class city in Trimble County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 574 at the 2020 Census. It is the second-largest city and county seat of Trimble County. It is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 42 and 421.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1816
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 902 ft
- ZIP code
- 40006
- Area code
- 502
Questions about Bedford
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Bedford, KY a good place to live?
Bedford has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.