1st Advantage MortgageThe median Bedford County household earns $59,992, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Pennsylvania license first.
On this page
- Bedford County at a glance
- Housing costs in Bedford County
- Income in Bedford County compared with Pennsylvania
- How Bedford County residents earn a living
- The counties around Bedford County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Bedford County
- Bedford County households compared
- Reading the Bedford County data as a borrower
- A Bedford County household budget, worked through
- Who licenses lenders for Bedford County residents
- A Bedford County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Bedford County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Bedford County's population at 47,513; only 44 of Pennsylvania's 67 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 1,012 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 47 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Bedford is the biggest of its 16 Census places, at roughly 2,851 people (6% of the county total).
Housing costs in Bedford County
A typical Bedford County rental runs $784 a month including utilities, which is 35% below Pennsylvania. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. Home values center on $179,000, or 3.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 78%.
| Housing | Bedford County | Pennsylvania statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $784/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $179,000 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.2% | 3.5% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Bedford County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Income in Bedford County compared with Pennsylvania
At $59,992, the typical Bedford County household income is 9% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 60th among Pennsylvania's 67 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Bedford County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.8% | +7.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.7% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -7.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Bedford County households make $100,000 or more, and 30% make less than $35,000. Census counts 11.6% of Bedford County residents in poverty, against 11.7% across Pennsylvania. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.431 here. A household earning below the $59,992 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Bedford County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Bedford County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by retail trade (15%). Construction stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.9% in Bedford County. 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Bedford County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -6.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.7% | +3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.4% | +2.0 pts |
| Construction | 10.0% | +4.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | +0.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.1% | +2.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Bedford County
Fulton County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Cambria County, is 37 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Bedford County; Morgan County is highest at $72,179 and Cambria County lowest at $58,418. The list crosses into Maryland, West Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford County | - | $59,992 | $784/mo | 78% |
| Fulton County, PA | 21 mi | $65,836 | $809/mo | 78% |
| Somerset County, PA | 28 mi | $61,446 | $753/mo | 80% |
| Allegany County, MD | 29 mi | $59,603 | $805/mo | 71% |
| Morgan County, WV | 33 mi | $72,179 | $794/mo | 84% |
| Blair County, PA | 36 mi | $62,382 | $885/mo | 72% |
| Cambria County, PA | 37 mi | $58,418 | $739/mo | 76% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Bedford County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 16 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 22% of Bedford County residents live in one of the 16. Incomes vary by place: $78,490 at the median in Earlston, $31,875 in Saxton. Median rent ranges from $638 in Hyndman to $884 in Earlston. Live in one of these Bedford County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | borough | 2,851 | $41,375 | $677 | 1 mi |
| Everett | borough | 2,052 | $38,565 | $822 | 7 mi |
| Earlston | CDP | 1,259 | $78,490 | $884 | 6 mi |
| Hyndman | borough | 850 | $56,429 | $638 | 17 mi |
| Saxton | borough | 791 | $31,875 | $685 | 20 mi |
| Stonerstown | CDP | 430 | $62,614 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Woodbury | borough | 346 | $47,708 | $1,031 | 17 mi |
| Schellsburg | borough | 342 | $81,250 | $730 | 9 mi |
| Defiance | CDP | 316 | $90,694 | $644 | 18 mi |
| Manns Choice | borough | 315 | $65,179 | $958 | 5 mi |
| New Paris | borough | 225 | $62,813 | $850 | 11 mi |
| Hopewell | borough | 162 | $51,250 | $683 | 15 mi |
| Rainsburg | borough | 138 | $42,500 | $975 | 7 mi |
| Pleasantville | borough | 128 | $47,500 | $950 | 14 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Bedford County households compared
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 7.8%, against 5.6% for Pennsylvania.
| Residents | Bedford County | Pennsylvania | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.5 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.1% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.8% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Bedford County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.9% |
Reading the Bedford County data as a borrower
Where the Bedford County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 15% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Older households. A 47.5 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Bedford County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
A Bedford County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Bedford County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Bedford County: $4,999
- Median rent: $784, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 43% cap, $2,150 total minus rent leaves $1,366
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Bedford County's.
Who licenses lenders for Bedford County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Bedford County, check the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Pennsylvania state guide for the statewide picture.
A Bedford County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Bedford County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Bedford County-area credit union.
- A Pennsylvania license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The Pennsylvania guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Bedford County household make?
About $59,992 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 23% below the Pennsylvania median.
Is Bedford County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $784 against $1,209 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Bedford?
Yes, along with the other 15 Census places in Bedford County, such as Everett, Earlston, Hyndman.
Can Bedford County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Pennsylvania county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Bedford County residents?
The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities licenses consumer lenders in Pennsylvania; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.