The Town FilesBedford, Indiana
City in Lawrence County · population 13,792 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,400
- Household income
- $49,553
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 41.8
Bedford is a city of 13,792 people in Lawrence County, Indiana. The median home is worth $152,400, close to the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Indiana towns, hipper than 88% of Indiana towns, more vibrant than 82% of Indiana towns.
How Bedford ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bedford is worth $152,400, close to the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $49,553, which is more affordable than 19% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $828 a month. 67.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bedford | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,400 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $828 | $888 |
| Median household income | $49,553 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 67.2% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Bedford
| People | Bedford | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.3% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.2% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Bedford
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 20.5°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.0 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 2, 1990 about 2.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 55 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 25, 2011.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4882: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| June 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1997: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And |
Jobs and pay in Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 13,507 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,342 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Bedford itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Bedford
9 public schools with 3,493 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford-North Lawrence High School | 9-12 | 1,249 | 16.2 |
| Bedford Middle School | 7-8 | 527 | 16.5 |
| Parkview Elementary School | PK-6 | 494 | 11.5 |
| Shawswick Elementary School | K-6 | 480 | 17.1 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | K-6 | 305 | 17.9 |
| Needmore Elementary School | K-6 | 226 | 11.9 |
| Lawrence County Independent Schools (charter) | K-8 | 212 | 10.6 |
| North Lawrence Career Center | 6-12 | — | — |
| Playful Pathways | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Bedford
- Mitchell, IN8.5 mi · 3,933 people · home $114,500
- Smithville-Sanders, IN13.8 mi · 3,323 people · home $259,100
- Paoli, IN21.0 mi · 3,666 people · home $150,700
- Bloomington, IN21.1 mi · 79,168 people · home $321,400
- Brownstown, IN23.8 mi · 3,025 people · home $146,600
- Loogootee, IN26.2 mi · 2,601 people · home $148,500
- Ellettsville, IN26.7 mi · 6,655 people · home $243,600
- Salem, IN27.5 mi · 6,371 people · home $144,700
Bedford questions
Is Bedford, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bedford scores better for retirees than 64% of Indiana towns and quieter than 29%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Bedford?
The median owner-occupied home in Bedford is valued at $152,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,553, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $828 a month.
What is the weather like in Bedford?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 20.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 10.0 inches of snow.
Does Bedford get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 2, 1990. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)