|
Community Contact |
Town of Bedford
Rebecca Hebert, CPM, AICP, Planning Director
24 North Amherst Road
Bedford, NH
03110
|
Telephone |
(603) 472-5243 |
Fax |
(603) 472-4573 |
E-mail |
rhebert@bedfordnh.org |
Web Site |
www.bedfordnh.org
|
Municipal Office Hours |
Town Offices: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 8-4, Tuesday, 7-4; Town Clerk: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 8-4:30, Tuesday, 7-3:30; Tax Collector: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8-4:30, Tuesday, 7-4:30
|
County |
Hillsborough |
Labor Market Area |
Manchester, NH Metropolitan NECTA |
Tourism Region |
Merrimack Valley |
Planning Commission |
Southern NH |
Regional Development |
Capital Regional Development Council
|
Election Districts |
|
US Congress |
District District 1 |
Executive Council |
District District 4 |
State Senate |
District District 9 |
State Representative |
Hillsborough County District 2 |
Incorporated: 1750 |
Origin: Bedford was established in 1730 as Narragansett Number 5 for the benefit of soldiers who fought against the Narragansett Indians in Rhode Island. Twenty years later little had been done to the land, and it was regranted first as Souhegan East, then as Bedford in 1750. The town was named for Lord John Russell, fourth Duke of Bedford, a close friend of Governor Benning Wentworth, whose first wife, Diana Spencer, was cousin to the Duke of Marlborough. The town's first moderator was Major John Goffe, son of Colonel John Goffe for whom Goffstown was named. |
Villages and Place Names: unknown
|
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 898 residents in 1790 |
Population Trends: Population change for Bedford totaled 17,446 over 50 years, from 5,859 in 1970 to 23,305 in 2020. Bedford had the sixth-largest 50 year numeric change among the cities and towns. The 2022 Census estimate for Bedford was 23,704 residents, which ranked 11th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns. |
Population Density and Land Area, 2022 (US Census Bureau): 723.6 persons per square mile of land area. Bedford contains 32.8 square miles of land area and 0.3 square miles of inland water area. |
Municipal Services |
Type of Government |
Manager & Council |
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2023 |
$38,114,548 |
Budget: School Appropriations, 2022-2023 |
$85,250,832 |
Zoning Ordinance |
1953/23 |
Master Plan |
2021 |
Capitol Improvement Plan |
Yes |
Industrial Plans Reviewed By |
Planning Board |
Boards and Commissions | |
Elected: | Town Council; Library |
Appointed: | Planning; Zoning; Conservation; Historic District; Recreation; Budget; Highway Safety; Sewer & Water Advisory |
Public Library |
Bedford Public |
Emergency Services |
Police Department |
Full-time |
Fire Department |
Full & part-time |
Emergency Medical Service |
Full & part-time |
Nearest Hospital(s) |
Distance |
Staffed Beds |
Elliot Hospital, Manchester |
6 miles |
292 |
Catholic Medical Center, Manchester |
4 miles |
262 |
|
|
|
Utilities |
Electric Supplier |
Eversource Energy |
Natural Gas Supplier |
Liberty Utilities |
Water Supplier |
Manchester Water Works; Pennichuck Water Works |
Sanitation |
Private septic & municipal |
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant |
No |
Solid Waste Disposal |
Curbside Trash Pickup | Private |
Pay-As-You-Throw Program | No |
Recycling Program | Voluntary |
Telephone Company |
Consolidated Communications |
Cellular Telephone Access |
Yes |
Cable Television Access |
Yes |
Public Access Television Station |
Yes |
High Speed Internet Service: |
Business | Yes |
Residential | Yes |
(NH Dept. of Revenue Administration) Property Taxes |
2022 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) |
$17.60 |
2022 Equalization Ratio |
79.2 |
2022 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) |
$13.73 |
2022 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type |
Residential Land and Buildings | 80.4% |
Commercial Land and Buildings | 18.0% |
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other | 1.7% |
(ACS 2017-2021) Housing |
Total Housing Units |
8,285 |
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached |
7,054 |
Units in Multiple-Family Structures: |
|
Two to Four Units in Structure |
87 |
Five or More Units in Structure |
1,144 |
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units |
0 |
(US Census Bureau) Population (1-Year Estimates/Decennial) |
Total Population |
Community |
County |
2022 |
23,704 |
426,594 |
2020 |
23,322 |
422,937 |
2010 |
21,203 |
400,721 |
2000 |
18,492 |
382,384 |
1990 |
12,513 |
336,549 |
1980 |
9,481 |
276,608 |
|
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 |
Population by Gender |
Male: 11,169 |
|
Female: 11,988 |
Population by Age Group |
Under age 5 |
|
1,167 |
Age 5 to 19 |
|
4,961 |
Age 20 to 34 |
|
2,873 |
Age 35 to 54 |
|
6,480 |
Age 55 to 64 |
|
3,770 |
Age 65 and over |
|
3,906 |
Median Age |
|
44.8 years |
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over |
|
15,797 |
High school graduate or higher |
|
97.5% |
Bachelor's degree or higher |
|
65.5% |
(ACS 2017-2021) Income, Inflation Adjusted $ |
Per capita income |
$62,501 |
Median family income |
$166,413 |
Median household income |
$143,119 |
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers |
Male |
$110,533 |
Female |
$75,345 |
Individuals below the poverty level |
3.0% |
(NHES - ELMI) Labor Force |
Annual Average |
2012 |
2022 |
Civilian Labor Force |
11,046 |
12,284 |
Employed |
10,537 |
12,018 |
Unemployed |
509 |
266 |
Unemployment Rate |
4.6% |
2.2% |
(NHES - ELMI) Employment & Wages |
Annual Average Covered Employment |
2012 |
2022 |
Goods Producing Industries |
Average Employment |
1,114 |
1,621 |
Average Weekly Wage |
$1,253 |
$1,952 |
|
|
|
Service Providing Industries |
Average Employment |
12,067 |
14,920 |
Average Weekly Wage |
$1,035 |
$1,507 |
|
|
|
Total Private Industry |
Average Employment |
13,181 |
16,541 |
Average Weekly Wage |
$1,053 |
$1,551 |
|
|
|
Government (Federal, State, and Local) |
Average Employment |
1,148 |
1,189 |
Average Weekly Wage |
$882 |
$1,153 |
|
|
|
Total, Private plus Government |
Average Employment |
14,329 |
17,730 |
Average Weekly Wage |
$1,040 |
$1,524 |
If "n" appears, data does not meet disclosure standards.
(NH Dept. of Education) Education and Child Care |
Schools students attend: |
Bedford operates grades K-12 |
SAU 25 |
Career Technology Center(s): |
Manchester School of Technology |
Educational Facilities (includes Charter Schools) |
Elementary |
Middle/Junior High |
High School |
Private/Parochial |
Number of Schools |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Grade Levels |
P K 1-4 |
5-8 |
9-12 |
P K 1-4 |
Total Enrollment |
1,421 |
1,349 |
1,389 |
61 |
2022 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): |
Total Facilities: 14 |
Total Capacity: 1,329 |
Nearest Community/Technical College: Manchester; Nashua |
Nearest Colleges or Universities: St. Anselm; Southern NH University; UNH-Manchester; Franklin Pierce-Manchester; MCPHS; Thomas More; Rivier |
Largest Businesses |
Product/Service |
Employees |
Established |
LSNE |
Contract manufacturing |
275 |
|
Bedford School District |
Education |
732 |
|
Whole Foods |
Natural food supermarket |
325 |
|
Lowe's |
Home improvement center |
215 |
|
Kelly Services |
Temporary employment agency |
200 |
|
Town of Bedford |
Municipal services |
205 |
|
Market Basket |
Supermarket |
462 |
2013 |
Target |
Department store |
175 |
|
Hannaford Brothers |
Supermarket |
400 |
|
|
|
|
|
Employer Information Supplied by Municipality
(Distance estimated from city/town hall) Transportation |
Road Access |
US Routes |
3 |
|
State Routes |
101, 114 |
Nearest Interstate, Exit |
I-293, Exit 3 |
|
Distance |
Local access |
Railroad |
Boston & Maine |
Public Transportation |
MTA |
|
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation |
Manchester-Boston Regional | Runway | 9,250 ft. asphalt |
Lighted? |
Yes |
Navigational Aids? |
Yes |
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service |
Manchester-Boston Regional |
Distance |
7 miles |
Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport |
4 |
|
Driving distance to selected cities: |
Manchester, NH |
7 miles |
Portland, ME |
101 miles |
Boston, MA |
55 miles |
New York City, NY |
248 miles |
Montreal, Quebec |
265 miles |
(ACS 2017-2021) Commuting to Work |
Workers 16 years and over |
11,618 |
Drove alone, car/truck/van |
71.5% |
Carpooled, car/truck/van |
4.2% |
Public transportation |
0.3% |
Walked |
2.3% |
Other Means |
0.8% |
Worked at home |
20.9% |
Mean Travel Time to Work |
28.6 minutes |
|
Percent of Working Residents: |
(ACS 2017-2021) |
Working in community of residence |
37.3% |
Commuting to another NH community |
51.9% |
Commuting out-of-state |
10.8% |
Recreation, Attractions, and Events |
Municipal Parks |
YMCA/YWCA |
Boys Club/Girls Club |
Golf Courses |
Swimming: Indoor Facility |
Swimming: Outdoor Facility |
Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility |
Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility |
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility |
Bowling Facilities |
Museums |
Cinemas |
Performing Arts Facilities |
Tourist Attractions |
Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H) |
Youth Sports: Baseball |
Youth Sports: Soccer |
Youth Sports: Football |
Youth Sports: Basketball |
Youth Sports: Hockey |
Campgrounds |
Fishing/Hunting |
Boating/Marinas |
Snowmobile Trails |
Bicycle Trails |
Cross Country Skiing |
Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area |
Overnight or Day Camps |
|
|
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Nearest Ski Area(s): McIntyre, Pat's Peak |
|
|
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Other: Farmer's Market, Hiking Trails |
Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, October 2023. Community Response Received 6/23/23
All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.