The Town FilesBedford, Iowa
City in Taylor County · population 1,508 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,800
- Household income
- $60,781
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 41.1
Bedford is a city of 1,508 people in Taylor County, Iowa. The median home is worth $96,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 82% of Iowa towns.
How Bedford ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bedford is worth $96,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $60,781, which is more affordable than 91% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $764 a month. 78.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bedford | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $764 | $820 |
| Median household income | $60,781 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.9% | — |
Who lives in Bedford
| People | Bedford | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Bedford
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 12.4°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 29, 1979 about 4.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 83 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 28, 2017.
Severe weather in Taylor County since 1996
Taylor County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| July 14, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4181: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| May 27, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1763: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Taylor County
Taylor County had 2,030 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,564 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Bedford itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Bedford
2 public schools with 523 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Elementary School | PK-5 | 280 | 15.6 |
| Bedford High School | 6-12 | 243 | 10.6 |
Towns near Bedford
- Clarinda, IA16.8 mi · 5,369 people · home $114,200
- Lenox, IA17.0 mi · 1,339 people · home $111,400
- Grant City, MO20.7 mi · 817 people · home $68,200
- Corning, IA22.2 mi · 1,564 people · home $96,400
- Villisca, IA22.4 mi · 1,132 people · home $77,000
- Burlington Junction, MO23.7 mi · 521 people · home $90,600
- Maryville, MO24.0 mi · 10,633 people · home $189,400
- Mount Ayr, IA25.7 mi · 1,623 people · home $152,000
Bedford questions
Is Bedford, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bedford scores better for retirees than 22% of Iowa towns and quieter than 33%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Bedford?
The median owner-occupied home in Bedford is valued at $96,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,781, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $764 a month.
What is the weather like in Bedford?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 12.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 20.3 inches of snow.
Does Bedford get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 29, 1979. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)