The Town FilesBedford, Ohio
City in Cuyahoga County · population 13,149 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $135,200
- Household income
- $57,308
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 70 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 42.2
Bedford is a city of 13,149 people in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The median home is worth $135,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better transit than 96% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 92% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 91% of Ohio towns.
How Bedford ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bedford is worth $135,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $57,308, which is more affordable than 67% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,059 a month. 59.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bedford | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $135,200 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,059 | $914 |
| Median household income | $57,308 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 59.2% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bedford
| People | Bedford | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.2% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.6% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 90.9% |
Weather in Bedford
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 23.5°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 70.0 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 2, 1983 about 2.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 83 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 16, 1965.
Severe weather in Cuyahoga County since 1996
Cuyahoga County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| January 3, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4098: Severe Storms And Flooding Due To The Remnants Of Hurricane Sandy |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| July 2, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1651: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County had 705,152 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,134 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Bedford itself the ACS puts it at 8.1%.
Public schools in Bedford
6 public schools with 2,753 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford High School | 9-12 | 880 | 12.4 |
| Heskett Middle School | 6-8 | 579 | 13.8 |
| Central Primary School | PK-2 | 396 | 14.7 |
| Columbus Intermediate School | 3-5 | 353 | 14.7 |
| Glendale Primary School | PK-2 | 304 | 12.2 |
| Carylwood Intermediate School | 3-5 | 241 | 14.2 |
Towns near Bedford
- Bedford Heights, OH1.9 mi · 11,020 people · home $156,500
- Maple Heights, OH1.9 mi · 23,701 people · home $97,900
- Oakwood, OH2.4 mi · 3,572 people · home $172,300
- Warrensville Heights, OH3.2 mi · 13,789 people · home $121,100
- Northfield, OH3.7 mi · 3,541 people · home $166,700
- Garfield Heights, OH4.1 mi · 29,781 people · home $109,900
- Orange, OH4.8 mi · 3,421 people · home $442,300
- Solon, OH4.9 mi · 24,262 people · home $392,900
Bedford questions
Is Bedford, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bedford scores better for retirees than 65% of Ohio towns and quieter than 18%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Bedford?
The median owner-occupied home in Bedford is valued at $135,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,308, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,059 a month.
What is the weather like in Bedford?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 23.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 70.0 inches of snow.
Does Bedford get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 2, 1983. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)