Town guide

Big Island, Virginia

Big Island is a community in Bedford County, Virginia, home to about 91 people across 0.8 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 24526.

Homes sold for a median of $232 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.

Population91111 per sq mi
Price per sq ft$232Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026

ZIP codes in Big Island

1 ZIP code, 1 shared with neighboring towns

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Big Island. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

The Big Island guide is on the way

We’re writing up Big Island’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.

  • History
  • What it’s like to live there
  • Getting around
  • Things to do

Are you a local agent who knows Big Island well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked

Around Big Island

Distances

Nearest major airportPiedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)103 miles away
Closer regional airportLynchburg Regional Airport - Preston Glenn Field (LYH)17 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Greensboro, NC102 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+Philadelphia, PA286 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Big Island; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Big Island

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Big Island had 300 residents in the 2020 census, down 1% since 2010.

It’s the 622nd largest of 669 towns in Virginia by population.

Bedford County grew from 30,356 residents in 1900 to 79,462 in 2020.

Big Island population by census2010: 303, 2020: 30030320103002020

Bedford County, 1900–2020

Bedford County population, 1900 to 20201900: 30,356, 1910: 29,549, 1920: 30,669, 1930: 29,091, 1940: 29,687, 1950: 29,627, 1960: 31,028, 1970: 26,728, 1980: 34,927, 1990: 45,656, 2000: 60,371, 2010: 68,676, 2020: 79,46230K’00’1031K’20’3030K’40’5031K’60’7035K’80’9060K’00’1079K’20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 85°F in summer, and winter lows average 25°F. About 43.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 12 inches of snow.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near Big IslandJan: high 46°F, low 25°F, 3.4 in; Feb: high 50°F, low 26°F, 2.9 in; Mar: high 58°F, low 33°F, 3.7 in; Apr: high 68°F, low 41°F, 3.6 in; May: high 75°F, low 51°F, 4.2 in; Jun: high 82°F, low 60°F, 4 in; Jul: high 85°F, low 65°F, 4.1 in; Aug: high 84°F, low 63°F, 3.6 in; Sep: high 78°F, low 56°F, 3.9 in; Oct: high 69°F, low 44°F, 3.4 in; Nov: high 59°F, low 33°F, 3.2 in; Dec: high 49°F, low 28°F, 3.8 in46°25°Jan3.450°26°Feb2.958°33°Mar3.768°41°Apr3.675°51°May4.282°60°Jun4.085°65°Jul4.184°63°Aug3.678°56°Sep3.969°44°Oct3.459°33°Nov3.249°28°Dec3.8Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Lynchburg #2, VA weather station (13 miles away).

Jobs in Bedford County

16,604 jobs at 1,818 businesses in Bedford County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Bedford CountyManufacturing: 2,984 jobs; Retail trade: 2,864 jobs; Health care and social assistance: 2,479 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 1,662 jobs; Construction: 1,347 jobs; Other services: 1,284 jobs; Administrative and support: 947 jobs; Professional services: 746 jobsManufacturing 18% Retail trade 17% Health care and social assistance 15% Hotels and restaurants 10% Construction 8% Other services 8% Administrative and support 6% Professional services 5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

1 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Big Island.

Nearest hospitals

  • Centra Health - Lynchburg Gen HospitalGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Lynchburg14.0 miles
  • Centra Bedford Memorial HospitalGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 5 of 5 · Bedford14.3 miles
  • Carilion Stonewall Jackson HospitalCritical access hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Lexington17.4 miles

Providers with an office here

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants1

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.

Places in and around Big Island

Libraries

  • Big Island Library1.8 mi

Counts are within about 1 mile of the center of town.

Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.

Schools in Big Island

Public schools here are run by Bedford County Public Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (1)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
Big Island ElementaryBig IslandPre-K–5182Public1.8 mi

Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.

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Where Big Island is

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Towns near Big Island

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Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.