Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Bedford is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
Bedford differs from Indiana on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bedford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bedford
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Bedford
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.2%), vs 8.1% across Indiana. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.9%), vs 6.8% across Indiana. Stroke is also above the state: 4.5%, vs 3.5% across Indiana. In all, Bedford runs above Indiana on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Bedford adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (29.9%), vs 24.9% across Indiana. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Bedford, and more people treating it
41.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Indiana 37.8%), but 80.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Bedford is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Bedford is healthier than 12%. Against the 5,621 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 32%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Indiana figure falls outside Bedford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Bedford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bedford is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #506 of 589 in Indiana. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 25% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 7%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Bedford’s median household income is $49,553; among the 5,621 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 32%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Bedford compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.3% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Bedford adults…
Bedford runs above IN on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
7.3 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Bedford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
Care in and near Bedford
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Bedford, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bedford; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Bedford adults are doing
About the same as Indiana on each measure.
1 in 3 Bedford adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.3% of Bedford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Bedford and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | D | 43.3% | 15.1% | 18.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bedford adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bedford
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bedford is better than Indiana on 1 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Bedford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bedford | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.4%21.5–27.4 | 20.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.7–18.5 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.6–20.6 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.3%36.3–50.7 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.1%13.3–17.1 | 13% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.8%37.9–45.9 | 37.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.5%36.3–44.6 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.5%31.3–38 | 28.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.6–13.3 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9.1–10.9 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%8–9.8 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.2%9.9–12.5 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.1–4.9 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16%13–19.3 | 15.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.7%16.2–21.2 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.9%25.6–34.6 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.8%12.3–17.6 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.6%32.2–45.1 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9%7.5–10.6 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.3%77–83.2 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.5%53.8–61.3 | 61.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85%83.2–86.8 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.3%77.9–82.6 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%60.7–70.5 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.2%65.1–80.2 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.7%22.2–29.4 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.1%28.2–38.1 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%19.2–25.9 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.5%13.1–18.1 | 14.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11%9.4–12.8 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.7%7.5–9.9 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.3%7.2–9.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.3%8.7–12.1 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.3%32.2–40.6 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18%15.9–20.4 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.9%15.1–18.8 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.4–10.5 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.1%5.5–6.8 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.2%9.1–11.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.3–5.3 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Indiana figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Bedford
Is Bedford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bedford is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health, #506 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 32%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bedford?
CDC estimates 43.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.3% and 50.7%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bedford?
Indiana University Health Bedford Hospital in Bedford, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Bedford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bedford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–10.6%), against 8.9% across Indiana.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Bedford more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bedford.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Indiana figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.