Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Bedford’s subject grades are an A+ for cost of living and an A− for schools and walkability; the weakest is a C− for incomes. Only 11 of Iowa’s 276 towns score higher on cost of living. Bedford's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 96% of U.S. towns. Bedford has 5 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Bedford Public Library and Lenox Round Barn. Bedford has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Bedford beats most towns.
Bedford HouseIn a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Bedford is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 720 in 1870, a peak of 2,151 in 1940, 1,508 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1940 on.
5 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Bedford, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Bedford.
The typical Bedford home is worth about $113,000, up 22% in a year, 52% below the Iowa typical home. At $764 a month, Bedford’s median rent is against $911 a month in Iowa’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns. 78% of Bedford households own their home.
| Bedford | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $764 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 78% | 70% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by the Bedford Community School District. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 269 | A+ |
| Bedford High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 6–12 | Grades 6–12 | 245 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
Most working residents leave Bedford for work: only 18% work in town. At 20 minutes, Bedford’s average trip to work is near the Iowa town median (19 minutes) and below the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Jobs based in Bedford fell to 438 in 2023, 33 fewer than in 2013.
| Bedford | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 18% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $61,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 73% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 5 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Bedford.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Bedford has cold winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 14° and about 18 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Bedford beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 39% of adults have high blood pressure in Bedford.
| Bedford | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 20% | 16% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 26% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| What stands out | Bedford | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.6% | 77.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.6% | 6.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
0.0 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Bibbins Park, at 22 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bibbins Park | — | 22 |
| 2. Taylor County Court Yard | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Bedford; the nearest are
About 4 of every 100 Bedford residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
5 places in Bedford on the National Register of Historic Places.
City in Iowa, USA
Bedford is a city in Taylor County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,508 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Taylor County. Lake of Three Fires State Park is located several miles northeast of Bedford.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.
