The Town FilesBedford, Pennsylvania
Borough in Bedford County · population 2,865 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $182,000
- Household income
- $41,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 45.9
Bedford is a borough of 2,865 people in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $182,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 97% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 97% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 93% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Bedford ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bedford is worth $182,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $41,375, which is more affordable than 4% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $677 a month. 47.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bedford | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $182,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $677 | $996 |
| Median household income | $41,375 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 47.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Bedford
| People | Bedford | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 15.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Bedford
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 11, 2014 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 13, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 11, 2014.
Severe weather in Bedford County since 1996
Bedford County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| January 10, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4099: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Bedford County
Bedford County had 16,659 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,760 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Bedford itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Bedford
3 public schools with 1,681 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford El Sch | K-5 | 750 | 16.0 |
| Bedford SHS | 9-12 | 527 | 13.2 |
| Bedford MS | 6-8 | 404 | 13.9 |
Towns near Bedford
- Bedford, PA2.9 mi · 5,105 people · home $192,000
- West Providence, PA8.3 mi · 3,082 people · home $179,600
- East St. Clair, PA8.5 mi · 2,908 people · home $191,600
- Greenfield, PA20.6 mi · 3,788 people · home $162,500
- Adams, PA22.2 mi · 5,752 people · home $172,500
- Paint, PA22.6 mi · 3,041 people · home $157,600
- Windber, PA22.8 mi · 3,941 people · home $99,000
- Freedom, PA24.0 mi · 3,002 people · home $150,500
Bedford questions
Is Bedford, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bedford scores better for retirees than 87% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 9%. 25.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.9).
How much does a house cost in Bedford?
The median owner-occupied home in Bedford is valued at $182,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,375, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $677 a month.
What is the weather like in Bedford?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 37.6 inches of snow.
Does Bedford get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bedford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 11, 2014. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- 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)