Town · New Hampshire
Bedford, New Hampshire
Bedford, town, in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. Bedford had 23,973 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 23,322 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 23,746 (±21). GEOID 3301104500.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
23,973
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 23,322 · ACS 2020-2024: 23,746 ±21
Median household income
$167,418
±$11,519 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $99,031
Median home value
$612,100
±$25,906 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $402,500
Median gross rent
$2,099
±$274 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $1,491
Where is Bedford and what county is it in?
Bedford is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. It covers 32.8 square miles of land, 711 residents per square mile in 2020.
Bedford is in the Manchester-Nashua, NH metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
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 23,973 people lived in Bedford on July 1, 2025, up 2.5% since 2020, in line with New Hampshire (+2.7%). The 2020 Census counted 23,322 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 23,746 (±21).
| Measure | Bedford | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 23,746±21 | 426,378 | +1,211 |
| Households | 8,176±388 | 168,740 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.83±0.13 | 2.48 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,387±400 | 177,734 | no clear change |
Bedford's population since 2000
From 18,274 in 2000 to 23,973 in 2025: up 31.2%. 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 45.0 years old; 22.7% are under 18 and 20.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.3%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 7.8%. 10.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bedford | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0±2.2 | 41.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.7%±1.7 pts | 19.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.5%±1.6 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Male | 48.9%±1.7 pts | 50.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.4%±2.2 pts | 8.5% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.3%±2.8 pts | 80.1% | −8.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.8 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 7.8%±2.2 pts | 4.3% | +4.1 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.8%±2.0 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 10.0%±1.9 pts | 10.3% | +3.4 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 12.6%±4.2 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.2%±1.5 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 9.2%±1.8 pts | 11.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.4%±0.8 pts | 5.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.1%±1.0 pts | 93.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 63.0%±4.0 pts | 41.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 27.5%±3.3 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.2%±2.2 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.8%±1.5 pts | 3.5% | – |
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 8,176 households earn less than $167,418 a year (±$11,519), against $103,545 in Hillsborough County and $99,031 in New Hampshire. In 2015-2019 it was $166,170 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 2.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bedford | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $167,418±$11,519 | $103,545 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $212,388±$16,228 | $132,601 | – |
| Per capita income | $75,630±$5,846 | $54,111 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 2.7%±1.5 pts | 6.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.5%±0.9 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 1.2%±1.2 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.9%±1.4 pts | 96.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.2%±2.2 pts | 93.4% | – |
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 82.9% of Bedford's occupied homes and renters 17.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $612,100 by its owner (±$25,906). The median renter pays $2,099 a month including utilities, and 55.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bedford | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $612,100±$25,906 | $421,100 | +$110,838 |
| Median gross rent | $2,099±$274 | $1,623 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 55.2%±12.9 pts | 37.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,239±$235 | $2,452 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 82.9%±2.7 pts | 67.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 17.1%±2.7 pts | 32.6% | – |
| Housing units | 8,387±400 | 177,734 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9%±1.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.1%±3.8 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.3%±2.5 pts | 56.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.7%±1.0 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.6%±2.2 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.6%±1.6 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.2%±1.3 pts | 5.2% | – |
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 23 new housing units in Bedford in 2025 (23 in single-family houses), 1.0 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across New Hampshire.
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?
62.4% of Bedford's workers drive alone and 27.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 1.7%.
| Measure | Bedford | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.1%±2.5 pts | 70.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.7%±0.9 pts | 3.1% | −1.8 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 62.4%±4.2 pts | 70.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.3%±2.0 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 3.3%±3.3 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 27.0%±3.7 pts | 18.1% | +17.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.3 min±2.4 | 27.3 min | −4.3 min |
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?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Bedford (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $150,654 (Tract 29.02) to $207,183 (Tract 29.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 29.03Hillsborough County | 9,002 | $207,183 |
| Tract 29.01Hillsborough County | 8,550 | $157,784 |
| Tract 29.02Hillsborough County | 6,194 | $150,654 |
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 New Hampshire?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bedford is the 484th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 6th-most populous of 221 in New Hampshire.
Bedford ranks 8th of 235 places in New Hampshire with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 6th | 221 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 96th | 187 |
| Residents per square mile | 50th | 241 |
| Median household income | 8th | 235 |
| Per capita income | 12th | 240 |
| Median home value | 18th | 239 |
| Median gross rent | 14th | 221 |
| Poverty rate | 154th | 160 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15th | 239 |
| Median age | 132nd | 239 |
| Owner-occupied share | 105th | 241 |
| Work from home | 15th | 214 |
| Travel time to work | 158th | 241 |
Bedford's figures with every place in New Hampshire (CSV)
Every place in New Hampshire, 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?
11 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' school search.