Jamie Stitt
Assistant Commissioner, Business and Workforce Development
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., Nashville, TN 37243Common Search Terms
Bedford County
County Profile ToolBedford County
Population & Demographics
Location
Time Zone
Central Time Zone
Grand Division
Middle Tennessee
Area (Square Miles)
473.6
County Seat
Shelbyville
Metropolitan Area
South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
ECD Region
Southern Middle
Population
Population
(2020)
50,396
Population
(2024)
54,228
Population Change
(2020 - 2024)
7.60%
Population Forecast
(2040)
64,276
Foreign Born Population
3,667
Foreign Born Persons (Percentage of Population)
7.10%
Language Other Than English Spoken At Home
12.40%
Civilian Veteran Population
2,494
Race (Percentage of Population)
White Alone
79.60%
Black or African American, alone
7.10%
American Indian And Alaska Native, alone
1.20%
Asian, alone
0.70%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, alone
0.00%
Some Other Race, alone
2.90%
Two or More Races
8.40%
Hispanic or Latino
15.50%
Age (Percentage of Population)
Male
Female
Total
Under 5 Years Old
Male: 7.60%
Female: 5.60%
Total: 6.60%
Under 18 Years Old
Male: 26.80%
Female: 24.10%
Total: 25.50%
18-64 Years Old
Male: 59.80%
Female: 60.20%
Total: 60.00%
65 Years and Over
Male: 13.40%
Female: 15.70%
Total: 14.50%
Median Age
Male: 35.4
Female: 39.1
Total: 37.6
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2019-2023 5-Year American Community Survey
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Tennessee State Data Center (2024)
Housing & Income
Housing & Income
Households
18,469
Homeownership Rate
70.40%
Persons Per Household
2.7
Living In Same House 1 Year & Over
88.80%
Median Home Value
$221,200
Annual Home Sales
828
Median Sale Price of Homes Sold
$300,000
Persons In Households With Income Below Poverty Level
12.40%
Total Personal Income
$2.8B
Personal Income Per Capita
$52,401
County Median Wage
$20.14
Household Income & Benefits
Percent of Household
Less Than $10,000
3.70%
$10,000 to $14,999
4.30%
$15,000 to $24,999
9.10%
$25,000 to $34,999
7.30%
$35,000 to $49,999
15.20%
$50,000 to $74,999
21.30%
$75,000 to $99,999
16.60%
$100,000 to $149,999
13.40%
$150,000 to $199,999
4.60%
$200,000 or More
4.50%
Median Household Income
$59,955
Percentage of Households by Income Range
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey
Tennessee Housing Development Agency (2023)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024)
Lightcast (2024)
Tax Structure
Property Tax
Property Tax Rate (County)
$2.3252
State Property Tax
None
Assessment Ratio: Residential Property
25%
Assessment Ratio: Farm Property
25%
Assessment Ratio: Commercial/Industrial Property
40%
Assessment Ratio: Public Utility Property
55%
Assessment Ratio: Business Personal Property
30%
State Tax
State Income Tax on Wages
None
State Income Tax: Interest from Bonds and Notes and Dividends from Stock
None (Hall Income tax was fully repealed January 1, 2021)
Excise Tax (State)
6.5% of Tennessee taxable income
Franchise Tax (state)
0.25% of the greater of net worth or real and tangible property in Tennessee. The minimum tax is $100.
Unemployment Insurance Tax (state)
2.7% of the first $7,000 in wages for new employers
Sales Tax
State Sales Tax Rate
7.0%
County Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
Local Sales Tax Collections
(FY 2023)
$23,032,729
Local Sales Tax Collections
(FY 2024)
$23,682,084
Local Sales Tax Collections Growth
(FY 2023 - FY 2024)
-2.74%
State Bond Ratings
Moody's
Aaa
Standard & Poor's
AAA
Fitch
AAA
Debt per Capita
State Debt per Capita
$988
County Debt Per Capita
$1,608
Sources:
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (2024)
Tennessee Department of Revenue (2024)
The Tax Foundation (2024)
Labor Force
Labor Force Estimates (2024)
Tennessee
Bedford
Labor Force
Tennessee: 3,420,373
Bedford: 25,422
Employment
Tennessee: 3,303,023
Bedford: 24,644
Unemployment
Tennessee: 117,350
Bedford: 778
Unemployment Rate
Tennessee: 3.40%
Bedford: 3.10%
Unemployment Rate*
Tennessee
Bedford
2019
Tennessee: 4.50%
Bedford: 3.80%
2020
Tennessee: 3.40%
Bedford: 3.00%
2021
Tennessee: 3.20%
Bedford: 2.90%
2022
Tennessee: 3.40%
Bedford: 3.10%
Unemployment Rate (by percentage)
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Industries
Industry
Employment
Establishments
Avg. Annual Wages
Crop and Animal Production
Employment: 68
Establishments: 19
Avg. Annual Wages: $38,377
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
Employment: 22
Establishments: 3
Avg. Annual Wages: $53,520
Utilities
Employment: 92
Establishments: 2
Employment: $107,102
Construction
Employment: 1,328
Establishments: 137
Employment: $84,301
Manufacturing
Employment: 4,673
Establishments: 55
Employment: $57,766
Wholesale Trade
Employment: 572
Establishments: 47
Employment: $81,892
Retail Trade
Employment: 2,034
Establishments: 167
Employment: $37,596
Transportation and Warehousing
Employment: 1,886
Establishments: 46
Employment: $64,435
Information
Employment: 308
Establishments: 26
Employment: $64,181
Finance and Insurance
Employment: 353
Establishments: 57
Employment: $70,856
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
Employment: 132
Establishments: 28
Employment: $78,662
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Employment: 268
Establishments: 93
Employment: $56,518
Management of Companies and Enterprises
Employment: 13
Establishments: 4
Employment: $75,431
Administrative, Support, Waste Management and Remediation
Employment: 1,069
Establishments: 62
Employment: $36,364
Educational Services
Employment: 121
Establishments: 8
Employment: $64,590
Health Care and Social Assistance
Employment: 1,278
Establishments: 132
Employment: $51,115
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Employment: 87
Establishments: 12
Employment: $37,169
Accommodation and Food Services
Employment: 1,224
Establishments: 81
Employment: $20,429
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Employment: 532
Establishments: 66
Employment: $44,132
Government
Employment: 2,524
Establishments: 43
Employment: $49,079
Unclassified
Employment: 14
Establishments: 5
Employment: $50,149
Total
Employment: 18,599
Establishments: 1,090
Employment: $53,701
Unique Occupations*
Employment
Location Quotient*
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
Employment: 479
Location Quotient*: 28.34
Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers
Employment: 5
Location Quotient*: 24.11
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Employment: 95
Location Quotient*: 12.2
Slaughterers and Meat Packers
Employment: 90
Location Quotient*: 11.38
Production Workers, All Other
Employment: 352
Location Quotient*: 10.61
Key Cluster
Total Employment
Advanced Materials
0
Aerospace & Defense
0
Appliances & Electrical
0
Automotive
686
Business Services
230
Chemicals
26
Distribution & Logistics
2,871
Film, Music & Entertainment
20
Food & Beverage
2,682
Healthcare & Medical Devices
10
Top Employers
Top County Employers
Estimated Employees
City
Tyson Foods, Inc.
Est. Employees: 1600
City: Shelbyville
Bedford County Schools
Est. Employees: 1066
City: Shelbyville
Marelli North America, Inc.
Est. Employees: 1000
City: Shelbyville
Big G Express, Inc.
Est. Employees: 614
City: Shelbyville
Walmart Distribution Center
Est. Employees: 548
City: Shelbyville
Star Manufacturing
Est. Employees: 478
City: Shelbyville
Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital
Est. Employees: 400
City: Shelbyville
Albea Americas, Inc.
Est. Employees: 309
City: Shelbyville
Bedford County Government
Est. Employees: 307
City: Shelbyville
Sanford, LP
Est. Employees: 250
City: Shelbyville
Transportation & Logistics
Transportation
Nearest Commercial Service Airport
Nashville International
Distance to Nearest Commercial Service Airport
57
Daily Flights At Nearest Commercial Service Airport
599
Nearest General Aviation Airport
Bomar Field-Shelbyville Municipal
Runway Length at Nearest General Aviation Airport
5,504'
Mean Travel Time to Work (Minutes)
26.4
Access of Interstate
I-24
U.S. Highways
41, 231
State Highways
10, 16, 64, 82, 130, 269, 270, 276, 387, 437
Nearest Port (From County Seat)
Nashville
Railroads Serving County
CSX, Walking Horse and Eastern Railroad
Sources:
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration, Aeronautical Data (2024)
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey
Education
General Stats
Bedford
Tennessee
Population Aged 25-64 With High School Degree Or Higher
Bedford: 84.80%
Tennessee: 91.00%
Population Aged 25-64 With Associate's Degree Or Higher
Bedford: 44.10%
Tennessee: 42.20%
Population Aged 25-64 With Bachelor's Degree Or Higher
Bedford: 16.60%
Tennessee: 33.60%
High School Graduation Rate
Bedford: 94.20%
Tennessee: 92.10%
College Going Rate
Bedford: 44.50%
Tennessee: 56.00%
Average ACT Score
Bedford: 18.6
Tennessee: 19.3
High School Graduation Rate
College Going Rate
Average ACT Score
Bedford County Schools
Enrollment
Elementary Schools
Enrollment: 4,063
Middle Schools
Enrollment: 1,986
High Schools
Enrollment: 2,633
Regional Higher Education Institutions
City
Enrollment
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville
City: Shelbyville
Enrollment: 507
Middle Tennessee State University
City: Murfreesboro
Enrollment: 16,470
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro
City: Murfreesboro
Enrollment: 915
Motlow State Community College
City: Tullahoma
Enrollment: 4,106
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 1-Year American Community Survey,
U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 5-Year American Community Survey
Tennessee Department of Education (2023-2024)
National Center for Education Statistics
Tennessee Board of Regents and Tennessee Higher Education Commission
† Regional higher education institutions include those within the selected and surrounding counties.
Due to data availability, federal graduation rates were used for Clay, Fentress, and Haywood counties.
Health & Public Safety
Doctors
Number of Doctors
35
Overweight & Obesity Prevalence
Adults*
23.9
Children** (Grade 8)
43.5
Regional Hospitals
Number of Beds
City
Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital
Number of Beds: 60
City: Shelbyville
Sources:
American Medical Association (2023)
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Tennessee Department of Health
† Regional hospitals include those within the selected and surrounding counties.
Climate
Climate
Average High Temperature
71.4°F
Average Low Temperature
48.7°F
Average Annual Temperature
60.1°F
Annual Rainfall
63.09"
Elevation (at County Seat)
802'
Prevailing Winds
Southerly
Sources:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2023)
Community Information
Bell Buckle
Population (2024)
410
Charter Type
General Law Mayor-Alderman
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
City Property Tax Rate
$0.55
Phone Number
(931) 389-9513
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
Yes
Main Street Participant
No
Normandy
Population (2024)
108
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
City Property Tax Rate
$0.48
Phone Number
(931) 580-1447
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
No
Main Street Participant
No
Shelbyville
Population (2019)
23,557
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
City Property Tax Rate
$1.48
Phone Number
(931) 684-2691
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
Yes
Main Street Participant
No
Wartrace
Population (2024)
653
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
City Property Tax Rate
$1.08
Phone Number
(931) 389-6144
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
Yes
Main Street Participant
No
Additional Community Information
ThreeStar Certified County
Yes
Sources:
Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
Tennessee Department of Revenue (2015)
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (2015)
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2014 5-Year American Community Survey