The Town FilesBedford, New Hampshire
Town in Hillsborough County · population 23,322 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $612,100
- Household income
- $167,418
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 45.0
Bedford is a town of 23,322 people in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $612,100, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks more upscale than 97% of New Hampshire towns, better for young professionals than 87% of New Hampshire towns, more vibrant than 86% of New Hampshire towns.
How Bedford ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bedford is worth $612,100, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $167,418, which is more affordable than 56% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $2,099 a month. 82.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bedford | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $612,100 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $2,099 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $167,418 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.9% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Bedford
| People | Bedford | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.5% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63.0% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.0% | — |
| Work from home | 27.0% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 92.5% |
Weather in Bedford
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 40.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.8 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 9, 1963 about 3.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 19, 1978.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 11, 1980.
Severe weather in Hillsborough County since 1996
Hillsborough County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| March 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4209: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 30, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3360: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County had 201,342 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,660 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Bedford itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Bedford
6 public schools with 4,065 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford High School | 9-13 | 1,398 | 13.8 |
| Ross A. Lurgio Middle School | 7-8 | 680 | 12.1 |
| McKelvie Intermediate School | 5-6 | 625 | 13.3 |
| Riddle Brook School | K-4 | 502 | 15.7 |
| Memorial School | PK-4 | 439 | 15.1 |
| Peter Woodbury School | K-4 | 421 | 13.6 |
Towns near Bedford
- Pinardville, NH4.7 mi · 5,034 people · home $286,300
- East Merrimack, NH5.2 mi · 5,176 people · home $291,500
- Amherst, NH5.3 mi · 11,753 people · home $537,600
- Manchester, NH5.8 mi · 115,644 people · home $365,600
- Merrimack, NH5.8 mi · 26,632 people · home $458,600
- Goffstown, NH5.9 mi · 18,577 people · home $377,400
- Goffstown, NH6.8 mi · 3,366 people · home $415,300
- Litchfield, NH7.1 mi · 8,478 people · home $485,000
Bedford questions
Is Bedford, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bedford scores better for retirees than 55% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 12%. 20.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.0).
How much does a house cost in Bedford?
The median owner-occupied home in Bedford is valued at $612,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $167,418, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $2,099 a month.
What is the weather like in Bedford?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.4 inches of precipitation a year and 52.8 inches of snow.
Does Bedford get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 9, 1963. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- 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)