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Bill and Lois Stepping Stones (Wilson House)Bill and Lois Stepping Stones (Wilson House) · Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0
A+Health Grade
Health in Bedford · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Bedford is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns

Bedford differs from New York on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 23 better, 1 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 10536, 10506, 10549, 10507. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Bedford

Against towns with similar incomes, Bedford’s lead shrinks

Bedford is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns, but 65% of the 1,011 towns with similar household incomes ($147K–$245K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓

Bedford is an active town

Only 18.1% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.9% across New York. The town has 31 miles of trails across 19 parks and preserves. Habits ↓

Bedford keeps up with checkups

It beats New York on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (73.9% vs 63.5%) and cholesterol checks (91.6% vs 89.2%). Checkups ↓

Bedford adults report less loneliness

Loneliness (28.6% vs 34.2%), frequent mental distress (12.8% vs 15%) and lack of emotional support (18.9% vs 26.4%) all run below New York. Mind & connection ↓

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 New York figure falls outside Bedford’s likely range; Bedford’s figures come from ZIP codes 10536, 10506, 10549, 10507, which may reach past town lines.

Health Grade

What’s behind Bedford’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bedford is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns, #43 of 755 in New York. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 97% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 91%.

A+Self-rated health12.4% · NY 18.1% · U.S. 19.4%
APhysical distress10.2% · NY 12.8% · U.S. 13%
A+Mental distress12.8% · NY 15% · U.S. 15.9%
A+Obesity23.8% · NY 28.8% · U.S. 32.9%
ADiabetes8.7% · NY 11.5% · U.S. 12%
ASmoking8.2% smoke · NY 11.3% · U.S. 11.8%
AExercise18.1% · NY 25.9% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 97%
Less healthyHealthier
New York towns we grade (755)Healthier than 94%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $147K–$245K (1,011)Healthier than 65%

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 $196,034; among the 1,011 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($147K–$245K), it’s healthier than 65%, about where its income would put it.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Bedford could be anywhere from A to A+. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 10536,10506,10549,10507), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with New York

Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.

Get no exercise 18.1%NY 25.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 32.1%NY 37.9%
Binge drink 16.1%NY 16.3%
Smoke cigarettes 8.2%NY 11.3%
0%10%20%30%40%
Bedford, betterBedford, worseAbout the sameNew York
Where Bedford gets moving

31 miles of trails across 19 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Bedford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.

81%Yearly checkupNY 81%
74%Dentist visitNY 64%
92%Cholesterol checkNY 89%
71%Colon screeningNY 67%
82%MammogramNY 79%
77%Taking BP medsNY 77%
1 in 17
working-age adults has no health insurance
Bedford 5.8% · New York 1 in 13 (7.9%)
Mind & connection

How Bedford adults are doing

On 3 of 4 measures, Bedford does better than New York.

3 in 10Bedford adults feel lonely
28.6% · NY 34.2% · Better than NY
1 in 5Bedford adults lack social or emotional support
18.9% · NY 26.4% · Better than NY
1 in 6Bedford adults have been diagnosed with depression
16.5% · NY 17.5% · About the same as NY
1 in 8Bedford adults are in frequent mental distress
12.8% · NY 15% · Better than NY
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Bedford adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Bedford adults…

Bedford runs below NY on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Bedford adults have diabetes
New York: 12 in 100 · better · likely 7.6–9.8%
Better than NYWorseAbout the sameNew York
Getting care

Care in and near Bedford

No hospital or community health center in Bedford itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERNorthern Westchester HospitalMount Kisco · 3.7 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyNorthern Westchester Hospital★★★★★ · 3.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careOpen Door Family Medical CenterMount Kisco · 3.6 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
3.6 mi
Open Door Family Medical Center
4 sites · nearest in Mount Kisco
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
3.7 mi
Northern Westchester Hospital
Mount Kisco · ★★★★★
ER
11 mi
Putnam Hospital Center
Carmel · ★★★★★
ER
11.4 mi
Blythedale Children's Hospital
Valhalla · not rated
Children’s
≈11.8 mi
Stamford Hospital
Stamford · ★★★★★
ER
12.3 mi
The Grasslands Homeless Shelter
Valhalla · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
✓ Primary careBedford is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careBedford is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthBedford is not a shortage area

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.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 10
Bedford adults worry about having enough food
9.7% · NY 17.2%
Better than NY
1 in 11
Bedford adults worry about keeping their housing
9.1% · NY 14.5%
Better than NY
1 in 18
Bedford adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.5% · NY 8.2%
Better than NY
1 in 18
Bedford adults lack reliable transportation
5.6% · NY 8.6%
Better than NY

8.1% of Bedford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.

Around town

Bedford and the towns around it

Bedford’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 7 graded towns around it.

Mount Kisco: 26.4%Somers: 22.4%Lewisboro: 22.5%Pound Ridge: 22.1%North Castle: 21.4%New Castle: 23.3%Golden's Bridge: 21.8%North Salem: 22.3%Yorktown: 24.2%Jefferson Valley-Yorktown: 23.7%Carmel: 27.2%Yorktown Heights: 26%Mahopac: 26.9%Ridgefield: 22.1%New Canaan: 21.4%West Mountain: 23.3%Wilton: 21.3%Stamford: 25.5%Scotts Corners: 21.9%Mount Pleasant: 23.2%Harrison: 22.2%Harrison: 20.9%Valhalla: 23.9%White Plains: 26%Greenburgh: 23.4%Greenwich: 22.3%Armonk: 21.1%Chappaqua: 20.3%Ossining: 24.2%Cortlandt: 24.5%Bedford: 23.8%BedfordMount KiscoSomersLewisboroPound RidgeNorth CastleNew CastleGolden's BridgeNorthern Westchester Hospital · Mount Kisco · 3.7 mi · 5★ MedicareHPutnam Hospital Center · Carmel · 11 mi · 3★ MedicareHBlythedale Children's Hospital · Valhalla · 11.4 miHStamford Hospital · Stamford · 11.8 mi · 5★ MedicareHOpen Door Mt. Kisco Clinic · Mount Kisco · 3.6 mi+The Grasslands Homeless Shelter · Valhalla · 12.3 mi+
Healthier than NYNear NYLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#21 of 31 towns on this map, healthiest first
North Castle21.4%
Golden's Bridge21.8%
Pound Ridge22.1%
Somers22.4%
Lewisboro22.5%
New Castle23.3%
Bedford23.8%
Mount Kisco26.4%
NY28.8%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
BedfordA+23.8%8.7%8.2%ZIP codes
Mount KiscoA26.4%10.4%9.7%CDC place
SomersA+22.4%8.8%6.9%ZIP codes
LewisboroA+22.5%8.3%6.9%ZIP codes
Pound RidgeA+22.1%8.4%6.4%ZIP codes
New CastleA+23.3%8.7%7.7%ZIP codes
North CastleA+21.4%7.7%6.2%ZIP codes
Bedford————

Bedford: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

20.4%

of Bedford adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs9.5%
Thinking or memory9.3%
Hearing4.9%
Errands alone5.6%
Vision3.6%
Dressing or bathing2.7%
New York

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 New York on 23 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New York 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…BedfordNYU.S.vs NY
Overall health
Fair or poor health12.4%10.7–14.118.1%19.4%Better
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)10.2%9–11.512.8%13%Better
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)12.8%11.3–14.215%15.9%Better
Conditions
Obesity23.8%20.8–26.928.8%32.9%Better
Diabetes8.7%7.6–9.811.5%12%Better
High blood pressure27.5%25–3032.6%34.4%Better
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)36.7%33.9–39.437.7%37.1%About the same
Arthritis24.1%21.9–26.324%25.3%About the same
Asthma9.3%8.3–10.310.3%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.3%8.5–10.17.7%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease5.1%4.5–5.76.1%6.4%Better
COPD4.6%3.9–5.26%6.3%Better
Stroke2.6%2.3–2.83.4%3.4%Better
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)5.6%4.5–6.912.8%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes8.2%6.9–9.711.3%11.8%Better
No exercise outside work18.1%15.7–20.625.9%24.7%Better
Binge drinking16.1%14–18.216.3%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours32.1%28.8–35.637.9%36%Better
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)5.8%4.8–77.9%11%Better
Checkup in the past year80.9%78.5–8380.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year73.9%71.5–76.263.5%63.2%Better
Cholesterol check in 5 years91.6%90.4–92.789.2%87.1%Better
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)76.6%73.7–79.277.2%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)70.6%67.1–7466.8%65.5%Better
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)81.6%76.5–85.978.9%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression16.5%14.5–18.517.5%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely28.6%25–31.934.2%32.5%Better
Lack social and emotional support18.9%16.3–21.426.4%23.6%Better
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food9.7%8.2–11.417.2%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing9.1%7.8–10.514.5%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off5.5%4.8–6.38.2%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation5.6%4.9–6.48.6%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)8.1%6.8–9.414.1%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability20.4%17.9–22.927.2%30.1%Lower
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs9.5%8.2–10.913.4%13.6%Lower
Difficulty concentrating or remembering9.3%8.2–10.612.1%13.9%Lower
Hearing difficulty4.9%4.3–5.55.6%6.7%Lower
Vision difficulty3.6%3.2–45.2%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone5.6%4.9–6.47.7%7.9%Lower
Difficulty dressing or bathing2.7%2.4–3.13.8%3.8%Lower

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 New York 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 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #43 of 755 in New York. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 65%. 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 23.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.8% and 26.9%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Bedford?

Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, 3.7 miles in a straight line from Bedford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.

How many people in Bedford have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 5.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.8–7%), against 7.9% across New York.

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 A to A+.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bedford.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New York 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.