Photo: Bennett-ne · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Bedford is healthier than 58%
Bedford differs from Ohio on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bedford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bedford
Making ends meet is harder in Bedford
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (20.3%), vs 14.1% across Ohio. Utility shut-off threats (12.7% vs 8.3%) and housing insecurity (16.6% vs 11.3%) are higher too. 17.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Bedford adults lack emotional support
1 in 4 adults lack social or emotional support (25.5%), vs 21.3% across Ohio. Loneliness is above the state too: 39.2%, vs 35% across Ohio. Mind & connection ↓
Stroke runs high in Bedford
1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.4%), vs 3.7% across Ohio. Conditions ↓
Bedford is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Bedford is healthier than 34%. Against the 8,120 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 58%. 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 Ohio figure falls outside Bedford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Bedford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bedford is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns, #533 of 993 in Ohio. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 53% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 17%).
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 $57,308; among the 8,120 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 58%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17.8% of Bedford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
How Bedford adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Bedford runs above Ohio.
2 in 5 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.
Out of every 100 Bedford adults…
Bedford runs below OH on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Bedford
1 community health center 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
7 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Bedford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
Bedford and the towns around it
Bedford’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | C | 38.5% | 14.8% | 16.2% | CDC place |
| Walton Hills | B+ | 31.4% | 13.7% | 12.6% | CDC place |
| Oakwood | C− | 40.4% | 18.8% | 16.9% | CDC place |
| Bedford Heights | C− | 42.8% | 19.1% | 17.2% | CDC place |
| Maple Heights | D | 44.1% | 18.2% | 19.6% | 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 (Ohio 29.5%). 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 Ohio on 3 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Ohio 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 | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.9%19.6–24.3 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.8–15.8 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15.2–18.6 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.5%34.7–42.5 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.8%13.3–16.5 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42%39.1–44.9 | 37.2% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.2%35.5–41.1 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.2%27.8–32.7 | 29.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.6%11.4–14 | 11.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7.1–8.5 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.3–7.8 | 7.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.2%7.3–9.1 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.4%4.1–4.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12%10–14.1 | 15.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2%14.2–18.3 | 15.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.9%23.9–30.2 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16%13.9–18.3 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.6%38.2–45 | 37.9% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.3%7–9.7 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.7%79.3–84 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.9%59–64.7 | 62.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.3%86.8–89.7 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.7%77.3–81.9 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.4%63.9–70.8 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.5%74.7–83.6 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%20.6–25.5 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.2%35.1–43.6 | 35% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.5%22.3–28.9 | 21.3% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.3%17.7–23.2 | 14.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.6%14.4–19 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.7%11.1–14.5 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.3%9.1–11.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.8%15.4–20.5 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32%29–35.1 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.7%14.9–18.6 | 13.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14%12.5–15.5 | 13.9% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.5–6.8 | 6.8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.4–6.6 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.3–10.3 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 3.8% | 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 Ohio 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 34% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #533 of 993 in Ohio. 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 38.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.7% and 42.5%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bedford?
Marymount Hospital in Garfield Heights, 3.8 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 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7–9.7%), against 8% across Ohio.
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 B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bedford.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Ohio 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.