City · Iowa
Bedford, Iowa
Bedford, city, in Taylor County, Iowa. Bedford had 1,474 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,508 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,336 (±149). GEOID 1905365.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,474
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,508 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,336 ±149
Median household income
$60,781
±$10,212 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$96,800
±$6,091 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$764
±$155 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Bedford and what county is it in?
Bedford is a city in Taylor County, Iowa. It covers 1.6 square miles of land, 940 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Bedford, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,474 people lived in Bedford on July 1, 2025, down 1.6% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 1,508 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,336 (±149).
| Measure | Bedford | Taylor County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,336 ±149 | 5,868 | no clear change |
| Households | 575 ±69 | 2,488 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.23 ±0.20 | 2.32 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 699 ±61 | 2,889 | no clear change |
Bedford's population since 2000
From 1,620 in 2000 to 1,474 in 2025: down 9.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bedford as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bedford?
The median resident of Bedford is 41.1 years old; 25.5% are under 18 and 21.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.6%.
| Measure | Bedford | Taylor County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 ±3.1 | 43.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.5% ±3.7 pts | 22.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.3% ±3.5 pts | 22.9% | – |
| Male | 51.0% ±3.4 pts | 51.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.4% ±3.2 pts | 8.1% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 91.9% ±3.4 pts | 88.9% | −5.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.7 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.6% ±2.1 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.6% ±0.7 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.9% ±0.7 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.3% ±2.2 pts | 8.7% | – |
| With a disability | 14.3% ±3.2 pts | 14.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.1% ±3.9 pts | 3.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.1% ±3.4 pts | 92.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 14.5% ±4.3 pts | 16.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.1% ±1.9 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.3% ±4.1 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.2% ±0.8 pts | 2.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bedford earn?
Half of Bedford's 575 households earn less than $60,781 a year (±$10,212), against $67,740 in Taylor County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $59,168 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bedford | Taylor County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $60,781 ±$10,212 | $67,740 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $71,026 ±$7,776 | $82,896 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,693 ±$3,873 | $35,477 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 10.0% ±4.3 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.5% ±7.1 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.4% ±4.5 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.3% ±4.3 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.7% ±5.1 pts | 84.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bedford?
Owners occupy 78.3% of Bedford's occupied homes and renters 21.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $96,800 by its owner (±$6,091). The median renter pays $764 a month including utilities, and 31.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bedford | Taylor County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $96,800 ±$6,091 | $117,200 | +$20,989 |
| Median gross rent | $764 ±$155 | $765 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 31.0% ±17.6 pts | 29.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $954 ±$65 | $1,161 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 78.3% ±6.3 pts | 77.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 21.7% ±6.3 pts | 22.1% | – |
| Housing units | 699 ±61 | 2,889 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 5.7% ±4.8 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±18.0 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 83.8% ±6.3 pts | 88.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.0% ±3.7 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.0% ±3.5 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 47.2% ±8.3 pts | 45.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.1% ±1.4 pts | 4.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Bedford building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Bedford in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Bedford work and get to work?
70.8% of Bedford's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 19.9 minutes.
| Measure | Bedford | Taylor County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.4% ±5.0 pts | 62.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0% ±5.4 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 70.8% ±7.7 pts | 78.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 20.3% ±7.6 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±4.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 8.3% ±5.5 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 0.0% ±4.0 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.9 min ±3.5 | 20.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Bedford?
No census tract lies mostly in Bedford; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1802Taylor County | 1,777 | $59,919 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bedford) · Census block assignment files
How does Bedford compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bedford is the 8,799th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 210th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Bedford ranks 210th of 279 places in Iowa with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 210th | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 176th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 177th | 279 |
| Median household income | 210th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 238th | 279 |
| Median home value | 270th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 193rd | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 123rd | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 257th | 279 |
| Median age | 106th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 92nd | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 141st | 279 |
Bedford's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Bedford with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Bedford?
20 of the 57 figures for Bedford on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bedford are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Bedford.