Population 6,466 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bedford
Household size in Bedford
| Period | Bedford | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.09 | 2.79 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.85 | 2.85 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.03 | 2.82 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.98 | 2.79 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.00 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Bedford are large by national standards, averaging 2.98 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.09, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.6 | 38.0 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.0 | 38.7 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.7 | 39.8 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 40.4 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.4 | +2.4 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
Bedford skews older than the country: its median age is 43.9, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.6, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the west.
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 York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 11.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 1.9% of households in Bedford, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 4.3 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only two of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 47.1% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.4% | 48.7% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 48.8% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 48.6% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 4.8% 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. About four in ten owners (40.2%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 5.3 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Only 14 of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of renters.
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 York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 9.0% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 9.1% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 7.9% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Bedford is close to the national rate: 11.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the New York area overall (7.9%). Vacancy has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1957 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1958 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1959 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Bedford is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1971, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Locally, though, homes here are newer than in the wider New York area, where the median home dates to 1962. The median year built has moved up from 1965 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the west.
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 York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,720 | $1,268 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,474 | $1,377 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,895 | $1,645 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,778 | $2,060 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,058 | +$792 | +$698 | +$606 |
The median renter in Bedford pays $2,778 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,058 a month since 2006–10, up 62%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 25.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Only 35 of the 488 New York 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 York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.5% | 35.0% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 75.0% | 36.7% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 79.3% | 39.9% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 85.4% | 43.6% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Bedford is highly educated: nearly nine in ten adults 25 and older (85.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other New York city with 5,000+ people has 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 York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.9% | 83.7% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.2% | 84.6% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.6% | 86.2% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.2% | 86.9% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Bedford: 98.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate rose. Only eight of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.9% | 7.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 9.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Bedford runs below the national rate: 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. 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 | 2.98 | 43.9 | 1.9% | 4.8% | 11.1% | 1971 | $2,778 | 85.4% | 98.2% | 4.2% |
| Pound Ridge | 2.87 | 51.0 | 1.3% | 6.7% | 9.8% | 1971 | $3,480 | 77.6% | 98.4% | 2.0% |
| Scotts Corners | 2.75 | 52.5 | 0.6% | 6.4% | 12.0% | 1971 | $3,501 | 79.6% | 98.6% | 2.4% |
| Bedford Hills | 2.87 | 40.0 | 7.2% | 35.6% | 9.9% | 1965 | $2,067 | 51.3% | 82.2% | 6.3% |
| Armonk | 3.01 | 44.1 | 4.3% | 8.8% | 7.8% | 1981 | $3,229 | 79.7% | 97.6% | 2.6% |
| Mount Kisco | 2.73 | 41.8 | 7.2% | 25.5% | 9.5% | 1970 | $1,622 | 64.1% | 90.6% | 4.6% |
| Cross River | 2.90 | 50.7 | 1.3% | 4.3% | 15.9% | 1980 | $3,482 | 85.5% | 99.2% | 4.9% |
| Katonah | 3.16 | 43.9 | 8.8% | 12.0% | 11.1% | 1964 | $2,440 | 76.2% | 98.1% | 2.9% |
| South Salem | 2.74 | 47.0 | 1.8% | 7.1% | 9.0% | 1973 | $2,802 | 70.9% | 97.9% | 4.9% |
| Chappaqua | 2.98 | 42.1 | 4.8% | 13.1% | 7.7% | 1960 | $2,890 | 84.1% | 98.3% | 5.4% |
| Stanwood | 2.74 | 48.6 | 8.1% | 0.0% | 12.2% | 1985 | $2,483 | 75.8% | 99.2% | 12.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Timnath, CO · Dover, AR · Lincroft, NJ · Pisgah Forest, NC · Tallulah, LA · Pinconning, MI · Longboat Key, FL · Pinckneyville, IL · Pilot Point, TX · Tea, SD
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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