Population 23,411 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bedford
Household size in Bedford
| Period | Bedford | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.41 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.29 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Bedford is a place of small households, averaging 2.29 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.41 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 187 Indiana cities with 5,000+ people, only 17 have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Bedford
| Period | Bedford | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.7 | 37.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.4 | 38.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.8 | 39.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.5 | 39.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Bedford is 43.5 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.7, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the center.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Bedford
| Period | Bedford | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.0% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Bedford than nationally: 10.0%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.2 points, as it has nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Bedford
Renters in Bedford
| Period | Bedford | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.5% | 28.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.7% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.6% | 30.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.6% | 29.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Bedford is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 41.2% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 4.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Bedford
| Period | Bedford | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.2% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.6% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 9.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Bedford: 7.4% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.1 points, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Bedford
| Period | Bedford | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1977 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +5 | +6 |
Bedford is a place of older homes: half were built before 1964, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the south.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Bedford
| Period | Bedford | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $580 | $763 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $620 | $819 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $699 | $903 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $899 | $1,146 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$319 | +$384 | +$606 |
Rent in Bedford runs $899 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $319 a month since 2006–10, up 55%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.3% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Bedford
Bachelor's degrees in Bedford
| Period | Bedford | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 23.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 24.6% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.6% | 27.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.7% | 30.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.6 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Bedford have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.7%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 8.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Bedford
| Period | Bedford | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.3% | 86.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.9% | 87.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.5% | 88.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.4% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.1 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Bedford have finished high school as nationally: 90.4%, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 10.1 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Bedford
| Period | Bedford | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 4.9% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.8 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Bedford has been low: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 6.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Bedford compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | 2.29 | 43.5 | 10.0% | 22.6% | 7.4% | 1964 | $899 | 21.7% | 90.4% | 2.3% |
| East Oolitic | 2.02 | 52.3 | 9.5% | 1.3% | 4.4% | 1974 | $1,013 | 32.0% | 95.0% | 2.3% |
| Oolitic | 2.34 | 44.8 | 12.9% | 29.3% | 13.2% | 1966 | $766 | 26.2% | 89.6% | 3.3% |
| Fort Ritner | 2.55 | 41.1 | 5.1% | 8.0% | 5.6% | 1969 | $996 | 25.0% | 90.6% | 2.9% |
| Shawswick | 2.02 | 52.0 | 10.2% | 2.5% | 4.8% | 1974 | $1,014 | 30.3% | 94.2% | 2.5% |
| Peerless | 2.52 | 40.0 | 3.3% | 3.7% | 8.8% | 1996 | $1,025 | 19.7% | 91.1% | 0.0% |
| Avoca | 2.78 | 37.0 | 6.8% | 7.4% | 12.7% | 1984 | $772 | 33.7% | 91.0% | 1.0% |
| Crawford | 2.22 | 50.6 | 5.2% | 1.2% | 6.0% | 1988 | $868 | 22.8% | 96.8% | 0.8% |
| Fayetteville | 3.11 | 39.8 | 10.9% | 12.7% | 6.4% | 1980 | $1,003 | 23.4% | 95.2% | 0.7% |
| Yockey | 2.38 | 45.6 | 2.7% | 3.2% | 6.2% | 1988 | $957 | 29.6% | 95.1% | 0.8% |
| Coveyville | 2.52 | 40.0 | 3.3% | 3.7% | 8.8% | 1996 | $1,025 | 19.7% | 91.1% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Carrboro, NC · Bedford, NH · Vernon-Rockville, CT · Union Hill-Novelty Hill, WA · Timberwood Park, TX · Talladega, AL · Sunny Isles Beach, FL · Summit, NJ · Capitol Heights, MD · Absecon, NJ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Bedford. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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