Forest, Virginia · Area guide
Bedford County living just west of Lynchburg: established neighborhoods, newer construction, Jefferson Forest schools and a county tax rate about half the city's.
Bedford County, next to Lynchburg
Forest is not a town in the usual sense. It is an unincorporated community in eastern Bedford County, about 10 miles southwest of downtown Lynchburg, with no mayor, no town limits and no traditional main street. The old town center and its railroad station are gone. What Forest has instead is Forest Road (U.S. 221), lined with shopping around Graves Mill, and a long list of neighborhoods branching off it.
It has also been one of the fastest-growing places in the region. The Census counted 8,006 people in Forest in 2000 and 11,709 in 2020, an increase of about 46% in twenty years, and the Forest mailing area reaches well beyond those boundaries.
The draw is simple. Forest homes are a short drive from Lynchburg's jobs, colleges and hospitals, but they are in Bedford County, which means Bedford County schools and a real estate tax rate about half of the city's.
Forest doesn't have a main street. It has a main road, and a lot of good neighborhoods off it.
Jefferson's retreat
Thomas Jefferson called Monticello home, but he came to Forest to get away from it. He and his wife Martha inherited the Poplar Forest plantation in 1773. While he was president, in 1806, Jefferson began designing a private retreat here, and construction continued until 1826.
The house is built around an octagon, with a dining room at its center shaped as a perfect cube and lit by a skylight. It may be the first octagonal house built in the United States. Jefferson visited every year from 1810 to 1823.
Today Poplar Forest is a National Historic Landmark (designated in 1971) and a museum run by a nonprofit, with ongoing archaeology on the grounds. Its restoration was completed in 2023. The Independence Day celebration, with colonial crafts, games and a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, is one of the best-loved days of the year in Forest.
County or city
Forest and Lynchburg sit side by side, but they are different governments with different taxes and schools.
$0.41 per $100
about $1,435
Bedford County Public Schools
Bedford County
$0.84 per $100
about $2,940
Lynchburg City Public Schools
City of Lynchburg
*Illustration only, assuming the assessed value equals $350,000. Your actual bill depends on the county or city assessment.
One catch: the line between them is not where most people expect. Some homes near Forest, around Wyndhurst and parts of Boonsboro, are inside the Lynchburg city limits, and some Bedford County homes use a Lynchburg mailing address. I confirm the jurisdiction for every home before you make an offer.
Rates per $100 of assessed value, as of October 5, 2026. Confirm with the locality.
Neighborhoods
Established and newerThe neighborhoods off Forest Road (U.S. 221) are the heart of Forest. Shopping, groceries and restaurants cluster around Graves Mill, and most of these streets put you a few minutes from errands and about 20 minutes from downtown Lynchburg.
EstablishedIvy Hill is built around the Ivy Hill golf course, one of the best-known communities in Forest.
The roads around Poplar Forest mix newer neighborhoods with homes on more land, all within a short drive of Forest's shopping.
MixedNew London is home to the New London Business & Technology Center and New London Academy, one of the oldest schools in Virginia.
2000s to todayForest's growth means there is usually new construction somewhere. Builder contracts and warranties work differently from resale homes, and I still recommend an independent inspection on a brand-new house.
MixedHead west toward Goode or south toward New London and the lots get bigger. Rural property brings its own checklist: well, septic, road frontage and how much of the land is usable.
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Most of Forest is a straight shot into Lynchburg on U.S. 221 or the U.S. 460 bypass. The average commute here is about 22 minutes.
By air
Lynchburg Regional Airport (American Airlines to Charlotte) and the New London Airport for general aviation.
By train
Amtrak's Northeast Regional and Crescent from Kemper Street Station in Lynchburg.
Census data
The Census "Forest" (the CDP) covers a smaller area than the Forest mailing address. Many homes with a Forest, VA 24551 address sit outside the CDP, so treat these figures as a picture of the core of Forest, not every Forest address.
Trails and outdoors
trails at the New London Business & Technology Center on Meade Road.
open to visitors, with seasonal events and archaeology programs.
Peaks View Park and the paved Ivy Creek Greenway are a short drive from much of Forest, and the Blackwater Creek Trail is not much farther.
the Peaks of Otter, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smith Mountain Lake.
Local favorites
Jefferson's octagonal retreat, and its Independence Day celebration.
groceries, shopping and restaurants without driving into the city.
chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1795 and considered one of the oldest continuously operating public schools in Virginia.
county taxes and schools, city jobs and amenities.
Schools
Forest is served by Bedford County Public Schools. Public schools located in Forest include:
Zoning follows the exact address, and some Forest-area addresses are zoned for other Bedford County schools, so I confirm it for every home.
Lynchburg's five colleges are about 20 minutes away, and Liberty University's Center for Engineering Research and Education is in New London.
Employers
About22minute average commute
Most Forest residents work in or around Lynchburg: Liberty University, Centra's hospitals, BWX Technologies, Framatome and the region's other major employers are all within a commute of about 20 to 30 minutes. Closer to home, the New London Business & Technology Center is a growing engineering hub, home to Liberty University's Center for Engineering Research and Education and companies including Simplimatic Automation and NanoSeptic Technologies.
Before you commit
a few homes near Forest are inside Lynchburg's city limits. Taxes and schools depend on it.
the Bedford Regional Water Authority serves many Forest neighborhoods; others rely on a private well and septic system. I confirm which, and what inspections that calls for.
many subdivisions have covenants and dues. I get them early so there are no surprises on fences, sheds or rentals.
builder contracts favor the builder. I review the warranty and still recommend an independent inspection.
natural gas is available along parts of U.S. 221, but many homes use heat pumps or propane. Internet options vary by street.
set by the exact address, not the subdivision name.
Flat fee listing
Forest buyers compare carefully, because there is a lot to compare. The homes that sell best are priced from real comparable sales in the same pocket of Forest, prepared well and presented beautifully. I list Forest homes for a flat fee instead of a percentage of your price, with the same full service.
FAQ
No. Forest is an unincorporated community in Bedford County with its own ZIP code, 24551. It borders Lynchburg, but Forest homes follow Bedford County taxes and schools. A few homes near the line are inside the city, so check the exact address.
Forest is in Bedford County: $0.41 per $100 of assessed value (Bedford County, as of October 5, 2026). Confirm the current rate with the county before you buy.
Bedford County Public Schools. Most Forest addresses are zoned for Jefferson Forest High School and Forest Middle School, with elementary schools including Forest Elementary, Thomas Jefferson Elementary and New London Academy. Check the exact address with the school division.
About 10 miles, or roughly 20 minutes by car, depending on where in Forest you start.
Yes. Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest is a museum run by a nonprofit, with house tours, archaeology programs and seasonal events, including an Independence Day celebration.
Many do, through the Bedford Regional Water Authority. Others, especially on larger lots, use a private well and septic system. I confirm which before you make an offer.
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