Mixed
Along U.S. 221
- Homes
- Single-family homes along and off Forest Road
- Best for
- The quickest drive to Forest or Bedford
The homes along U.S. 221 put Forest's shopping and the town of Bedford each a short drive away.
Goode, Virginia · Area guide
Goode
Rolling farmland and Blue Ridge views along U.S. 221, between Forest and the town of Bedford: county taxes, room to spread out and an easy drive in either direction.
- Population
- 3,357
- ZIP 24556, 2020 Census
- Real estate tax
- $0.41
- per $100 (Bedford County)
- School system
- Bedford County Public Schools
- ZIP code
- 24556
Eastern Bedford County
Living in Goode
Goode is an unincorporated community in eastern Bedford County, along U.S. 221 between Forest and the town of Bedford. It is rolling farmland with views of the Blue Ridge, crossed by the Big Otter River and by the Norfolk Southern line that gave the community its start.
It has no downtown and no town government, and that is the point. Homes here sit on larger lots and acreage, pay Bedford County's real estate tax and attend Bedford County schools, with Forest's shopping about 10 minutes east and the town of Bedford about 15 minutes west.
For buyers who like Forest but want more land and a quieter road, Goode is worth a look.
Forest is 10 minutes one way, Bedford 15 minutes the other, and the Blue Ridge is out the window.
A railroad stop
From Goode's Crossing to Goode
Goode began as a railroad stop called Goode's Crossing, where passengers were dropped off and picked up. Its post office opened in 1873; the name was shortened to Goode's in 1883 and to Goode in 1948. The community is named for John Goode, a Bedford-born congressman of the 1870s. In the 1920s and 1930s, tomato canneries were its main industry, and the old U.S. 460 ran right through it on what is now Pilgrim Road before the highway moved to the outskirts.
About a mile east of Goode stands Bellevue, a private Federal-style brick home built in 1824 and 1840 and sited for long views over the countryside. From 1866 to 1909 it housed the Bellevue School, and today it anchors the Bellevue Rural Historic District, more than 400 acres of farmland that also include an 1832 crossroads tavern.
- post office opens at Goode's Crossing
- 1873
- the name becomes simply Goode
- 1948
- residents of ZIP 24556 at the 2020 Census
- 3,357
County or city
Goode or Lynchburg?
Goode (Bedford County)
Real estate tax$0.41 per $100
Annual tax on a $400,000 home*about $1,640
SchoolsBedford County Public Schools
Local governmentBedford County
Lynchburg (city)
Real estate tax$0.84 per $100
Annual tax on a $400,000 home*about $3,360
SchoolsLynchburg City Public Schools
Local governmentCity of Lynchburg
*Illustration only, assuming the assessed value equals $400,000. Your actual bill depends on the assessment.
Goode pays the same Bedford County rate as Forest, so the choice between them comes down to land, schools and the drive, not taxes.
Rates per $100 of assessed value, as of October 5, 2026. Confirm with the locality.
Neighborhoods
Goode neighborhoods
Older and mixed
Around the old crossing
- Homes
- Older homes near the rail line and Pilgrim Road
- Best for
- Older homes near the heart of the community
The original community grew up around the railroad crossing and the old route of U.S. 460, now Pilgrim Road.
Newer
Newer homes on larger lots
- Homes
- Single-family homes on larger lots
- Best for
- A newer home with room around it
Newer homes have filled in along the back roads, many on lots larger than Forest's subdivisions offer.
MixedFarms and acreage
- Homes
- Farms, homes on acreage and land along the Otter rivers
- Best for
- Space, privacy and views
Much of Goode is still farmland. Expect private wells and septic systems, long driveways and Blue Ridge views from the higher ground.
Drive times
Getting around Goode
U.S. 221 (Forest Road) runs through Goode between Forest and Bedford, and U.S. 460 runs parallel just to the south, from Bedford to Lynchburg.
- Forestabout 10 minutes east
- The town of Bedfordabout 15 minutes west
- Lynchburg Regional Airportabout 25 minutes
- Downtown Lynchburg and Wards Roadabout 25 to 30 minutes
- Peaks of Otterabout 35 minutes
- Smith Mountain Lakeabout 40 minutes
- Roanokeabout 50 minutes west
- AmtrakKemper Street Station in Lynchburg, about 30 minutes
By air
Lynchburg Regional Airport, about 25 minutes.
By train
Kemper Street Station in Lynchburg, about 30 minutes.
Census data
Goode by the numbers
These figures cover all of Bedford County. Goode is not a census-designated place, so the Census does not publish figures for it on its own; its ZIP code, 24556, had 3,357 residents at the 2020 Census.
Population79,4622020 Census. 83,059 in the July 2025 estimate.Source: U.S. Census Bureau (Bedford County)
Median household income$78,937ACS 2020 to 2024Source: U.S. Census Bureau (Bedford County)
Homeowners84.7%of homes are owner-occupiedSource: U.S. Census Bureau (Bedford County)
Average commute26.5 minACS 2020 to 2024Source: U.S. Census Bureau (Bedford County)
Bachelor's degree or higher33.7%of adults 25 and overSource: U.S. Census Bureau (Bedford County)
Census median home value$297,400Owner estimates from the 2020 to 2024 survey, which trail current sale prices.Source: U.S. Census Bureau (Bedford County)
Mountains and lake
Parks and the outdoors in Goode
Falling Creek Park
near the town of Bedford, with a trail network of about 10 miles, an 18-hole disc golf course, a playground and a skate park.
The Peaks of Otter
hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway, about 35 minutes away.
Smith Mountain Lake
boating and swimming, about 40 minutes away.
Poplar Forest
Thomas Jefferson's retreat, about 15 minutes away in Forest.
Local favorites
What people love about Goode
The views
rolling farmland with the Blue Ridge on the horizon.
The location
between Forest and Bedford, with Lynchburg and Roanoke both within an hour.
The land
larger lots and acreage than most of Forest offers.
The schools
today's Goode zone feeds Forest Middle and Jefferson Forest High.
The county tax rate
the same Bedford County rate as Forest, well below Lynchburg's.
Schools
Goode schools
Goode is served by Bedford County Public Schools. Today, Goode-area homes are zoned for Otter River Elementary, a small school in Goode, which feeds Forest Middle School and Jefferson Forest High School.
- Elementary
- Otter River Elementary
- Middle
- Forest Middle
- High
- Jefferson Forest High School
Bedford County is reviewing its school zones in fall 2026, with new attendance zones expected to be decided in December, so I confirm current zoning for every home.
Commuting
Where people work in Goode
26.5minute average commute (Bedford County)
Goode is a place to live and commute from. Forest, Lynchburg's major employers and the town of Bedford are all within about half an hour, and Roanoke is within an hour, so buyers here can work in either direction.
Before you commit
Buying in Goode: what I check
School zone
Bedford County is redrawing school zones. I check the current zone, and any change ahead, for the exact address.
Well and septic
public water and sewer in Bedford County come from the Bedford Regional Water Authority, but many rural homes use a private well and septic system. I confirm which, and make sure the inspections cover them.
Acreage
on rural parcels, I look at the survey, road frontage, easements and how much of the land is usable.
The rail line
the Norfolk Southern line runs through Goode. I note how close a home sits to the tracks.
Flood zones
low-lying land along the Big Otter River can fall in FEMA flood zones, which affects insurance. I check the map for every home.
Selling
Selling in Goode
Rural homes are harder to price than subdivision homes, because no two parcels are alike. The homes that sell best here are priced from real comparable sales of similar land and homes, prepared well and presented beautifully. I list Goode homes for a flat fee instead of a percentage of your price, with the same full service.
FAQ
Questions about Goode
Where is Goode, VA?
Goode is an unincorporated community in eastern Bedford County, along U.S. 221 between Forest and the town of Bedford. Its ZIP code is 24556.
What is the real estate tax rate in Goode?
Goode 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.
Which schools serve Goode?
Bedford County Public Schools. Today, Goode-area homes are zoned for Otter River Elementary, Forest Middle School and Jefferson Forest High School. Bedford County is reviewing school zones in 2026, so confirm zoning for the exact address.
How far is Goode from Forest and Lynchburg?
About 10 minutes to Forest and about 25 to 30 minutes to downtown Lynchburg or Wards Road.
How did Goode get its name?
It is named for John Goode, a Bedford-born congressman. The community began as a railroad stop called Goode's Crossing, whose post office opened in 1873.
Do homes in Goode have public water?
Public water and sewer in Bedford County come from the Bedford Regional Water Authority, but many rural homes around Goode use a private well and septic system. I confirm which for every home.
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Sources
Updated October 2026
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Bedford County, Virginia (2020 Census; ACS 2020 to 2024; July 2025 estimate)
- Goode, Virginia (Wikipedia; location, name, ZIP population, schools, geography)
- ZIP code 24556, 2020 Census (zip-codes.com)
- The Goode post offices (Bedford Bulletin)
- Bellevue (Virginia DHR)
- Bellevue Rural Historic District (Virginia DHR)
- John Goode (Wikipedia)
- Otter River Elementary and Bedford County schools
- Bedford County Public Schools redistricting process
- Bedford County school consolidation (Cardinal News, September 2026)
- U.S. 221 in Virginia (Wikipedia)
- Bedford County utilities (Bedford County Economic Development)
- Falling Creek Park (Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance)
Drive times are rounded estimates for normal traffic.Mason Kiffmeyer · LPT Realty, Inc.
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