Bedford, IN · standard
ZIP Code 47421
Lawrence County, Indiana - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 27,831
- 59/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $68,108
- Median income Near-median income area
- $188,100
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 22.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Bedford pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 44th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 40th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 59
- people per sq mi
- 80%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 47421 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 47421 (Bedford, IN) rose +6.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 231.5 in 2023 to 247.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 47421 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana, with 27,831 residents across 473.3 square miles, a density of 59 people per square mile, in the Indiana/Indianapolis time zone.
ZIP 47421 reports a modest median household income of $68,108 (8% below the average Indiana ZIP), while per-capita income is $38,096. The poverty rate is 11.6%, with unemployment at 1.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $188,100 (3% below the average Indiana ZIP) and median rent is $835; 80.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 46.7, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lawrence County, so 47421 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 47421
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bedford, IN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 47421.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
124 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
104 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
88 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
55 establishments
- Construction
Construction
54 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 47421, Bedford, IN · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
27,831
Population
473.3
Area (sq mi)
59
People / sq mi
Indiana/Indianapolis
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 47421?
46.7
Median Age
49.0%
Male
51.0%
Female
0.8%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$68,108
Median Household Income
-8% vs state ZIP avg
$38,096
Per Capita Income
11.6%
Poverty Rate
1.9%
Unemployment Rate
27.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 47421 ranks among Indiana ZIPs
Bedford, IN household income vs. every Indiana ZIP code
Median household income among 721 reporting Indiana ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$68,108 43rd percentile higher than 43% of 721 Indiana ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Indiana ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
13,038housing units
13,038
Total Housing Units
12,273
Occupied Units
765
Vacant Units
2.20
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$188,100
Median Home Value
-3% vs state ZIP avg
$835
Median Rent
1967
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+6.9%
YoY Change (2024)
247
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+147%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 47421 have increased 6.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +147% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.6% | 169 |
| 2021 | +13.7% | 192 |
| 2022 | +12.6% | 216 |
| 2023 | +7.1% | 231 |
| 2024 | +6.9% | 247 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 684 business establishments in ZIP 47421, employing approximately 9,284 people with a combined annual payroll of $452,374,000.
684
Businesses
9,284
Employees
$452.4M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 124 | 18.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 104 | 15.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 88 | 12.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 55 | 8.0% |
| Construction | 54 | 7.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 49 | 7.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 44 | 6.4% |
| Manufacturing | 36 | 5.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 30 | 4.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 28 | 4.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 17 | 2.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 16 | 2.3% |
| Information | 15 | 2.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 8 | 1.2% |
| Educational services | 6 | 0.9% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 4 | 0.6% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 0.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 47421 vs 47451 →
ZIP 47421 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 47421
Bedford (47421)
27,831 residents
- 47446 9,990
Mitchell (47446)
9,990 residents
- 47436 1,663
Heltonville (47436)
1,663 residents
- 47451 1,228
Oolitic (47451)
1,228 residents
- 47420 135
Avoca (47420)
135 residents
- 47434 76
Harrodsburg (47434)
76 residents
- 47467 72
Tunnelton (47467)
72 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 47421 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 47421 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 47420
Avoca (47420)
$113,333 median income
- 47436
Heltonville (47436)
$75,278 median income
- 47421
Bedford (47421)
$68,108 median income
- 47451
Oolitic (47451)
$60,938 median income
- 47446
Mitchell (47446)
$50,337 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 47421 ranks #3 of 5 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 47421, both outside IN so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (27,831 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lawrence County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 47421 in?
ZIP code 47421 (Bedford) is located in Lawrence County, Indiana. Lawrence County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lawrence-in.
What is the population of ZIP code 47421?
ZIP code 47421 in Bedford, IN has a population of 27,831 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 47421?
The median household income in ZIP 47421 is $68,108, which is 11% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 47421?
The median home value in ZIP 47421 is $188,100, which is 32% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 47421?
The largest racial group in ZIP 47421 is White at 94.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 47421?
ZIP code 47421 has 684 business establishments employing approximately 9,284 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 47421?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 47421 are: Retail trade (124), Health care and social assistance (104), Other services (except public administration) (88). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 47421?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 47421 increased by 6.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 147%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 47421?
In ZIP code 47421, 61.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 47421?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 47421 is 27.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 47421?
In ZIP code 47421, approximately 80.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 20.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 47421?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 47421 is 11.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 47421's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 47421 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Bedford, IN ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.