Bedford, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Bedford, Iowa had a total population of 1,336, the 236th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $60,781, which is 19% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 10.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x.
Bedford Quick Facts
How Bedford Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,389 | 1,336 | -3.8% |
| Median household income | $57,031 | $60,781 | +6.6% |
| Median home value | $88,900 | $96,800 | +8.9% |
How Bedford Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Bedford Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Taylor County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenox | 1,569 | $61,000 | 11.3% | $111,400 |
| New Market | 397 | $50,000 | 17.9% | $102,700 |
| Clearfield | 396 | $48,250 | 20.8% | $72,800 |
| Gravity | 128 | $54,500 | 15.6% | $50,600 |
| Blockton | 122 | $78,750 | 4.1% | $62,900 |
| Sharpsburg | 83 | $71,250 | 4.8% | $95,000 |
| Conway | 35 | $21,771 | 8.6% | $23,300 |
Cities Similar to Bedford
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut | 1,342 | $62,500 | $115,900 | 14.1% | 12.4% |
| Sanborn | 1,323 | $59,417 | $168,500 | 23.8% | 13.5% |
| Greene | 1,339 | $56,335 | $120,700 | 29.7% | 17.3% |
| Elkader | 1,293 | $62,857 | $143,200 | 26.0% | 9.6% |
| Baxter | 1,247 | $60,952 | $166,700 | 17.6% | 14.7% |
Population Overview
Bedford is a small community located in Iowa, within Taylor County. The total population is 1,336. It ranks as the 236th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Bedford is 41.1 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Bedford is $60,781. This is 19% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.0%. This is 10% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 7.0%. This is 97% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $96,800. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Bedford is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Bedford has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.4%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.
Education
14.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 54% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Bedford, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Iowa city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Bedford, Iowa?
Bedford, Iowa has a population of 1,336 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Bedford, IA?
The median household income in Bedford is $60,781, which is 25% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Bedford, IA?
The poverty rate in Bedford is 10.0%. This means approximately 128 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Bedford, Iowa?
Bedford's population is 91.9% White, 0.8% Black, 3.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Bedford, IA?
The median home value in Bedford is $96,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.6x.
How educated is Bedford, Iowa?
14.5% of adults (25+) in Bedford hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.