Population 23,380 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bedford
Household size in Bedford
| Period | Bedford | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.86 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.93 | 2.50 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.83 | 2.49 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.91 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Bedford is a place of big households: 2.91 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.86, even as the national average fell.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.4 | 40.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.1 | 42.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.8 | 43.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.3 | 44.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.8 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 46.3, Bedford is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.4, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the 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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 8.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 8.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Bedford: 7.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. That is in line with the rest of New Hampshire. The single-parent share is up 0.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.3% | 27.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.5% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.4% | 27.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 17.4% of households in Bedford rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 38.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the south. The renter share is up 4.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 12.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.1% | 12.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 12.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 11.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 3.5% of homes in Bedford are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Bedford has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of New Hampshire cities.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Bedford has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Bedford has newer homes than at least four in five New Hampshire cities.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,441 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,529 | $1,094 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,694 | $1,224 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,133 | $1,597 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$691 | +$580 | +$606 |
The median renter in Bedford pays $2,133 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $691 a month from 2006–10, a 48% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 38.8% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Only five of the 68 New Hampshire cities with 5,000+ people have higher rents.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.5% | 33.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 58.7% | 35.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 64.6% | 37.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 63.9% | 41.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +7.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Bedford: 63.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 4.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 68 New Hampshire cities with 5,000+ people, only six have a higher share of college graduates.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.3% | 91.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.6% | 92.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.3% | 93.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.2% | 94.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Bedford: 97.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 0.9 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.7% | 5.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 6.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.6% | 3.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Bedford has been strong: just 1.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 | 2.91 | 46.3 | 7.6% | 17.4% | 3.5% | 1989 | $2,133 | 63.9% | 97.2% | 1.6% |
| Manchester | 2.34 | 39.3 | 13.1% | 51.0% | 7.2% | 1963 | $1,639 | 33.5% | 89.6% | 2.9% |
| East Merrimack | 1.94 | 42.1 | 8.5% | 29.6% | 6.3% | 1986 | $2,019 | 42.3% | 95.8% | 0.1% |
| Goffstown | 2.51 | 41.6 | 7.0% | 13.6% | 5.3% | 1982 | $1,442 | 45.0% | 96.8% | 0.8% |
| Merrimack | 2.79 | 42.2 | 6.5% | 6.3% | 3.5% | 1984 | $1,900 | 51.6% | 97.0% | 2.5% |
| Amherst | 2.64 | 46.2 | 3.1% | 8.3% | 1.1% | 1979 | $1,741 | 65.8% | 99.4% | 1.5% |
| North Londonderry | 2.65 | 39.8 | 23.6% | 25.2% | 5.7% | 2005 | $1,207 | 41.8% | 98.4% | 3.3% |
| Martin | 3.24 | 39.2 | 1.7% | 4.9% | 8.4% | 1994 | $1,435 | 42.8% | 97.7% | 1.1% |
| New Boston | 2.94 | 40.9 | 13.1% | 11.3% | 6.4% | 1990 | $1,227 | 45.1% | 96.1% | 3.4% |
| Mont Vernon | 3.01 | 43.0 | 7.4% | 4.8% | 7.3% | 1979 | $1,154 | 51.5% | 96.1% | 2.2% |
| Londonderry | 2.73 | 42.3 | 9.2% | 14.1% | 4.6% | 1988 | $1,928 | 48.2% | 97.1% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Nogales, AZ · East Renton Highlands, WA · Carthage, MO · Travelers Rest, SC · Troy, AL · Mukilteo, WA · Forest, VA · Corcoran, CA · Chowchilla, CA · Palmetto Bay, FL
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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