© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Bedford.
About
Life in Bedford
Bedford is a community of 12,960 people in Ohio. The median household income is $57,308, median rent runs about $1,061 per month, and median home values are around $135,200. Unemployment is low at 3.9%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Bedford at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.6%
Foreign-Born
3.8%
Broadband Internet
87.6%
of households
Population Growth
-3.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.8% foreign-born, most often from United Arab Emirates
Who lives in Bedford: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bedford, the largest foreign-born group is from United Arab Emirates (36.1%), and 2.0% of residents speak Arabic at home.
Under 18
19.7%
of residents
65 and Older
19.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
45.9%
of households
Married Couples
26.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.11
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for OH
Rent, home values, and income in Bedford
In Bedford, home values are 37% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,678
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1958
median year built
Vacant Homes
14.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $155,636 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below OH average
Unemployment in Bedford and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cuyahoga County, which includes Bedford, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
Bedford: Cuyahoga County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cuyahoga County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Bedford is about 1% of Cuyahoga County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Bedford Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Cleveland-Elyria, OH metro area
Commute20.1 min avg
How Bedford residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bedford, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Medium hub4.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 110 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 64% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bedford runs 64% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
117.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
634.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bedford Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cuyahoga County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cuyahoga County, which includes Bedford, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,000 |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.5M |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.1M |
| 2022 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $376,500 |
| 2020 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $878,000 |
| 2019 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $27.2M |
| 2018 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cuyahoga County, county-wide
Bedford is about 1% of Cuyahoga County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cuyahoga County, which includes Bedford, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
158
per year
Moderate Days
203
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Cuyahoga County, county-wide
Bedford is about 1% of Cuyahoga County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate79°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bedford has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.0"
Annual Snowfall
63.8"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
91
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
172
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 24°F | 1.76" |
| Feb | 37°F | 25°F | 1.53" |
| Mar | 45°F | 31°F | 2.35" |
| Apr | 57°F | 41°F | 3.10" |
| May | 68°F | 53°F | 3.51" |
| Jun | 77°F | 63°F | 2.84" |
| Jul | 81°F | 68°F | 3.66" |
| Aug | 80°F | 67°F | 3.45" |
| Sep | 74°F | 60°F | 2.94" |
| Oct | 63°F | 49°F | 3.24" |
| Nov | 51°F | 38°F | 2.92" |
| Dec | 40°F | 30°F | 2.04" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bedford
Uninsured
5.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Bedford's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare Northfield Campus
Psychiatric · 3.5 mi away · Northfield
Marymount Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.8 mi away · Garfield Heights
South Pointe Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 4 mi away · Warrensville Heights
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bedford
Bedford's student/teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 20.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Bedford (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 8,969 students · in-state tuition $13,262 · 57% graduate · median earnings $56,979 (10 yrs after entry)
Case Western Reserve University
8.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 6,437 students · in-state tuition $69,270 · 87% graduate · median earnings $89,865 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,274 students · in-state tuition $51,960 · 77% graduate · median earnings $74,509 (10 yrs after entry)
Bryant & Stratton College-Parma
12.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 624 students · in-state tuition $20,109 · 30% graduate · median earnings $37,469 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 539 students · in-state tuition $50,575 · 67% graduate · median earnings $42,757 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona College of Nursing-Cleveland
5.6 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 164 students · in-state tuition $23,880 · median earnings $41,223 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bedford
Bedford has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cuyahoga Valley National Park (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
9 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
21 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
42 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
68 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bedford
Bedford Branch
70 Columbus Rd., Bedford
Cities Near Bedford
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bedford?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bedford FAQ
Is Bedford, Ohio affordable?⌄
Bedford's median rent is $1,059/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $57,308/year. Median home value is $135,200.
Is Bedford, Ohio safe?⌄
Bedford's violent crime rate was 118 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 635 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bedford, Ohio?⌄
Cuyahoga County, which includes Bedford, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bedford, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Bedford is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,059/month and median household income is $57,308/year. The median home value is $135,200. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bedford, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Bedford is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from