What are the schools like in Bedford, IA?

Bedford is served primarily by Bedford Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.9:1.

What is the median household income in Bedford?

The median household income in Bedford, IA is $61,838 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.9%.

What is the weather like in Bedford, IA?

Bedford has an average high temperature of 31.9°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 18.0 inches.

Bedford, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bedford, IA affordable or expensive?

Bedford's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bedford is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $86,800 and the median rent is $610 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bedford, IA?

Crime rate data for Bedford is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Bedford, IA a Good Place to Live?

Bedford is a small town of 1,416 in Iowa, with a median household income of $61,838 and a 5.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Bedford stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Bedford is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bedford city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 85.6

Bedford's overall cost of living index is 85.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bedford costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bedford, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$86,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$610	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	80.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$61,838	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Bedford is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Bedford is served primarily by Bedford Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bedford, IA	National Avg
School District	Bedford Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bedford sees average highs of 31.9°F in January and 85.6°F in July, with 38.4 inches of annual precipitation and 18.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bedford, IA
Average High — January	31.9°F
Average High — July	85.6°F
Annual Precipitation	38.4"
Annual Snowfall	18.0"

Demographics

Metric	Bedford, IA	National Avg
Population	1,416	—
Median Age	41.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.7%	22.2%
65 and over	19.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Gravity, IA 6 mi Conway, IA 8 mi Hopkins, MO 10 mi New Market, IA 10 mi Sharpsburg, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Bedford

Bedford, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50833

Bedford vs Other Cities

Bedford, IA vs Gravity, IA Bedford, IA vs Conway, IA Bedford, IA vs Hopkins, MO Bedford, IA vs New Market, IA Bedford, IA vs Sharpsburg, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bedford, IA affordable or expensive?

Bedford's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bedford roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $86,800 and median rent is $610/month.

What is the crime rate in Bedford, IA?

Crime data for Bedford is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Bedford?

Public schools in Bedford are operated by Bedford Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 12.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bedford, IA a good place to live?

Bedford, IA has a population of 1,416, a median household income of $61,838, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bedford?

Bedford averages 31.9°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.4 inches with about 18.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bedford?

Bedford, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50833.

What is the population of Bedford?

The population of Bedford, Iowa is 1,416 with a median age of 41.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bedford?

Key numbers for living in Bedford: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $86,800, median household income $61,838, schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bedford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.