Bedford, NH Town Profile

Bedford New Hampshire Community Profile
Bedford, NH
Community Contact Town of Bedford
Rick Sawyer, Planning Director
24 North Amherst Road
Bedford, NH 03110
 
Telephone (603) 472-5242
Fax (603) 472-4573
E-mail rsawyer@ci.bedford.nh.us
Web Site www.bedfordnh.org
 
Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm
 
County Hillsborough
Labor Market Area Manchester NH Metro-NECTA
Tourism Region Merrimack Valley
Planning Commission Southern NH
Regional Development Southeast Economic Development Corp.
 
Election Districts  
US Congress
District 1
Executive Council
District 4
State Senate
District 9
State Representative
Hillsborough County District 18
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: Bedford ranked ninth in percent change and eighth in numeric change over 50 years. Population change totaled 16,316, from 2,176 in 1950 to 18,492 in 2000. The largest decennial percent change was 67 percent between 1950 and 1960. The 2006 Census estimate for Bedford was 20,986 residents, which ranked 12th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
 
Population Density, 2006: 640.8 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, 2006 $23,022,751
Budget: School Appropriations, 2006 $56,262,441
Zoning Ordinance 1953/07
Master Plan 2000
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
 
Boards and Commissions
Elected:
Town Council; Library
Appointed:
Planning; Zoning; Conservation; Historic District
 
Public Library Bedford Public
 
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 5/9
Emergency Medical Service Municipal
 
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Elliot Hospital, Manchester 6 miles 296
Catholic Medical Center, Manchester 4 miles 330
     
 
UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier KeySpan
Water Supplier Manchester Water Works; Pennichuck Water Works
 
Sanitation Private septic & Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal  
Curbside Trash Pickup
None
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
No
Recycling
Voluntary
 
Telephone Company Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:  
Business
Yes
Residential
Yes
 
PROPERTY TAXES (NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration) 
2006 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $16.34
2006 Equalization Ratio 87.5
2006 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $14.29
 
2006 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings
82.9%
Commercial Land and Buildings
16.0%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other
1.0%
 
HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning) 
2006 Total Housing Units 7,668
   
2006 Single-Family Units 6,295
Single-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
53
2006 Multi-Family Units 1,372
Multi-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
83
2006 Manufactured Housing Units 0
   
DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau) 
Total Population Community County
2006 20,986 402,789
2000 18,492 382,384
1990 12,513 336,549
1980 9,481 276,608
1970 5,859 223,941
 
Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
8,988
Female
9,286
 
Population by Age Group
Under age 5
1,329
Age 5 to 19
4,212
Age 20 to 34
2,190
Age 35 to 54
6,703
Age 55 to 64
1,737
Age 65 and over
2,103
Median Age
39.2 years
 
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
92.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
49.3%
 
ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau) 
Per capita income $37,730
Median 4-person family income $91,868
Median household income $84,392
 
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
$69,987
Female
$39,507
 
Families below the poverty level 1.6%
 
LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average 1996 2006
Civilian Labor Force
7,973 11,170
Employed
7,804 10,862
Unemployed
169 308
Unemployment Rate
2.1% 2.8%
 
EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average Covered Employment 1996 2006
Goods Producing Industries    
Average Employment
941 1,272
Average Weekly Wage
$653 $1,220
     
Service Providing Industries    
Average Employment
9,959 11,657
Average Weekly Wage
$598 $902
     
Total Private Industry    
Average Employment
10,900 12,929
Average Weekly Wage
$602 $933
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)    
Average Employment
531 829
Average Weekly Wage
$574 $771
     
Total, Private plus Government    
Average Employment
11,431 13,758
Average Weekly Wage
$601 $924
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

 

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)
Schools students attend: Bedford operates grades K-8; grades 9-12 are tuitioned to Manchester West District: SAU 25
Career Technology Center(s): Manchester School of Technology Region: 15
 
Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
3 1   1
Grade Levels
P K 1-5 6-8   K 1-12
Total Enrollment
2,049 1,016   148
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2007: Total Facilities: 29 Total Capacity: 1,880
Nearest Community/Technical College: Manchester
Nearest Colleges or Universities: St. Anselm; Southern NH University; Hesser; UNH-Manchester

 

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Wal-Mart Department store 283  
Bedford School District Education 245  
Macy's Retail 199  
Lowe's Home improvement center 196  
Wayfarer/Quality Inn Hotel, restaurant, convention center 185  
Kelly Services Temporary employment agency 150  
Target Retail 150  
Graham Packaging Research & manufacturing of plastic bottles 100  
Harvey Construction Construction 100  
       

 

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall)
Road Access US Routes 3
  State Routes 101, 114
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-293, Exit 3
         Distance Local access
Railroad Boston & Maine
Public Transportation Yes
 
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 Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 8
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
5 miles
Portland, ME
101 miles
Boston, MA
55 miles
New York City, NY
252 miles
Montreal, Quebec
263 miles
 
COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
86.0%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
5.4%
Public transportation
0.3%
Walked
0.5%
Other Means
1.5%
Worked at home
6.3%
Mean Travel Time to Work 27.2 minutes
   
Percent of Working Residents:  
Working in community of residence
26%
Commuting to another NH community
62%
Commuting out-of-state
12%
   
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X Municipal Parks
  YMCA/YWCA
  Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
  Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility
  Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
  Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
  Bowling Facilities
X Museums
X Cinemas
  Performing Arts Facilities
  Tourists Attractions
  Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X 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
   
  Nearest Ski Area(s): McIntyre, Pat's Peak
   
  Other:

 

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2007. Community Response Received 08/10/07

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.