The Town FilesBedford, Michigan
Charter township in Calhoun County · population 9,198 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,400
- Household income
- $67,695
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 41.8
Bedford is a charter township of 9,198 people in Calhoun County, Michigan. The median home is worth $142,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 79% of Michigan towns, better transit than 78% of Michigan towns, hipper than 70% of Michigan towns.
How Bedford ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bedford is worth $142,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $67,695, which is more affordable than 92% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,006 a month. 91.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bedford | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,006 | $955 |
| Median household income | $67,695 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Bedford
| People | Bedford | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Bedford
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 17.2°F. About 34.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 2, 1977 about 4.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 1, 2019.
Severe weather in Calhoun County since 1996
Calhoun County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Calhoun County
Calhoun County had 54,415 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,067 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Bedford itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.
Towns near Bedford
- Level Park-Oak Park, MI1.7 mi · 3,260 people · home $124,500
- Springfield, MI4.1 mi · 5,292 people · home $110,800
- Johnstown, MI5.8 mi · 2,841 people · home $216,400
- Battle Creek, MI5.8 mi · 52,721 people · home $141,900
- Ross, MI5.9 mi · 4,851 people · home $370,900
- Pennfield, MI6.4 mi · 8,781 people · home $166,500
- Barry, MI9.1 mi · 3,417 people · home $344,100
- Emmett, MI9.6 mi · 11,744 people · home $220,000
Bedford questions
Is Bedford, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bedford scores better for retirees than 23% of Michigan towns and quieter than 29%. 21.4% 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 $142,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,695, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,006 a month.
What is the weather like in Bedford?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 17.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.4 inches of precipitation a year and 64.6 inches of snow.
Does Bedford get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 2, 1977. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)