Bedford

Distance to NYC: 47 miles
Area: 39 square miles

The Town of Bedford consists of three hamlets; Bedford Village, Katonah and Bedford Hills. Elegant country estates, horse farms, rural neighborhoods, and weekend hideaways, all blend to form the peaceful atmosphere of colonial New England that so captures the flavor of Bedford. There are approximately 18,133 residents.

What You’ll Pay

As of Feb. 16, 129 homes were on the market in the Town of Bedford. On the low end is a charming cape cod home for $379,000 for 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 993 square feet on 0.8 acres. In the middle, a 4 bedroom colonial with 5.2 baths, 6312 square feet on 4.0 acres is listed at $1,799,000. For $15 million, there is a new 5 bedroom, 5.3 bath colonial with 6 car barn, caretaker’s cottage, barn, pool and poolhouse on 11.9 acres.

Out of the 48 homes that have sold in the town of Bedford over the past 6 months, 33 went for less than $1 million. The median sales price over the past 6 months is $766,250; the lowest was $333,500 and the highest was $5.5 million.

Bedford Transportation

Located 47 miles North of New York City.
Metro North Hudson Line travel time to Grand Central Station is 56 minutes from Bedford Hills
Served by Bedford Hills, Katonah, and Mt. Kisco Metro North Stations
Education Facilities

Bedford is served by the Bedford Central School District and the Katonah-Lewisboro Union Free School District
There are two junior high schools and two high schools serving the Town of Bedford: Fox Lane Middle School and High School (Bedford-Central) and John Jay Middle School and High School (Katonah-Lewisboro)
There are five elementary schools in Bedford Central that serve this area; Bedford Village Elementary School, Bedford Hills Elementary School, West Patent Elementary School, Pound Ridge Elementary School, Katonah Elementary School
Bedford area Private/parochial schools include The Harvey School, Rippowam-Cisqua, The Long Ridge School, St. Patrick’s School

What To Do

The Bedford area, without doubt, is a horse lover’s paradise. The Bedford Riding Lanes Association offers, for a small yearly membership fee, the use of over 200 miles of riding trails. For peaceful, uninterrupted riding through open fields and dense forest, the equestrian can enjoy fabulus views of the countryside, while traveling from the southern-most part of Bedford, through the Jay Homestead and into the Pound Ridge Ward Reservation.

Bedford’s Parks include: Bedford Village Memorial Park and Bedford Hills Memorial Park

Bedford Places of Worship

Antioch Baptist Church
Bedford Community Church
Bedford Presbyterian Church
First Church of Christian Scientist
First Presbyterian Church
Katonah United Methodist Church
St. Luke’s Episcopal
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic
St. Mathias Church
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
St. Patrick’s Church
Temple Shaaray Tefila

Bedford is home to three lovely villages in Westchester County: Katonah, Bedford Village, and Bedford Hills. The winding country road Rt 22 runs through Bedford and is a joy to drive, as it is very scenic and passes by the town’s famous Bedford Old Oak Tree, which is presumed to be more than 500 years old. It’s a gorgeous old tree that has lots of low-hanging branches and a perfect spot to pull off the road and have a picnic lunch.

The villages of Bedford offer lots of great amenities, each unique unto their own. Walking through the village of Katonah, you’ll see lots of Victorian-style homes, beautiful old churches, and blooming Cherry trees in Spring. Main street in town is lined with spectacular shops and places to eat like Willy Nick’s restaurant, a cozy restaurant right across from the train station that, while a bit expensive, is totally worth the price! Right next door is funky Noka Joe’s cafe and gift shop, where you can grab some coffee and find the next great birthday gift (or a gift for yourself). The town also has a coffee shop called Perk’s that has great coffee and soup for cold Winter days, and Blue Bus Music is an amazing music store with a knowledgeable staff. Kellog’s and Lawrence is a funky store that offers anything from hardware, to home decor, to camping gear. If you’re in the mood for some pizza, stop at Pizza Station (their pasta pizza is my favorite, and chicken rolls are outstanding--yum yum)! There’s also a Mrs. Green’s and Awakenings, a funky awareness shop that even holds palm readings and past-life workshops (going inside, I always find the music they play so relaxing). The library is a beautiful old building that has a book sales, open mics and invites local authors to come and read their stuff. Katonah is also home to the Katonah Art Museum and Caramoor, a great Elizabethen-style garden that hosts concerts and an annual Music Festival in the summer.

Bedford Village is where you’ll find the Village Green, the Bedford Free Library (it looks like an old white house, and they have great book sales annually, usually when the weather is warmer); the Bedford Playhouse Theater, Cemetery, and some old government houses that are made of stone (this area is also known as the Historic District).

Bedford Hills used to be called “Bedford Station”, as it’s the home of the Bedford Train Station. The famous restaurant owned by Richard Gere, the Barn and its neighboring restaurant with an open patio and firewood grill, The Farmhouse, is located here. (There’s also Yoga workshops held in the same building.)

Bedford is fair as far as housing prices go and is easy to afford for working middle class families. The highly-esteemed Katonah-Lewisboro and Bedford Central School District serves students in the Bedford area. Bedford is easily accessed off of Rt. 100 and 684, as well as scenic rt 22. It’s a beautiful, safe place to raise a family. Fun Fact: Bedford Hills was filmed for the part in "It's a Wonderful Life" where George is running through the town happily waving at everyone!

Visitors, you will say "it's a wonderful life" when you come to Bedford, and you might not want to leave---this one is not to be missed!

The town of Bedford could be a study in contrasts; it features sprawling estates, and a maximum-security women’s prison. Occupying thirty-nine square miles in northeastern Westchester, Bedford is often ranked as one of the country’s most affluent communities.

History buffs will be enamored of Bedford’s role in the birth of our country. The town was settled in 1680 by a small group of Puritans, and if it gives off a New England-esque vibe, it’s because modern-day Bedford started out as part of Connecticut. In 1700, after years of dispute, King William issued a royal decree, making Bedford part of New York. During the Revolutionary War, Bedford was considered neutral ground by both the Americans and the British, but in 1779, the British burned the town, destroying all but one building. After the war, the arrival of the Harlem line of the Metro-North railroad led to further development and growth.

Bedford is 47 miles from New York City, making for an average train commute of just under an hour. Included within the town are the hamlets of Bedford Hills, Bedford Village, Bedford Corners and Katonah. Bedford Hills is the founding village and the seat of government for the town, and has a small commercial area around its Metro-North station.

Bedford Village, in the southeastern area of the town, features the original 1680 land purchase, as well as the town’s Historic District, which is recognized by both the state and national Register of Historic Places.

Bedford Corners forms the southeastern portion of the town. It is predominantly residential with hilly terrain.
Katonah, the northernmost part of the town, features a small downtown area with shops and restaurants popular with residents and visitors. It also has a train station, just north of the Bedford Hills station.

The majority of the students attend schools in the Bedford school district; however, some students attend the Katonah-Lewisboro schools. Both districts are highly regarded, with high scores on state exams and excellent graduation rates.

Bedford as a whole has a great assortment of amenities, including shopping, dining, recreation and culture, though each hamlet has its own special qualities. Though Bedford is known for its wealth, there are some more modestly priced single-family homes and condominiums.

Bedford Village is sometimes used synonymously with Bedford, but it is actually a 3.7 square mile hamlet located in the southwestern portion of the town of Bedford, NY. Bedford Village was the site of the original 1680 settlement and is absolutely abundant with old New England charm and even has a village green with historic buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th century. The Bedford area as a whole is quite wealthy and is rich in handsome farmland and filled with large colonial homes and estates.

The Bedford Post Inn in the actual town of Bedford is a luxury inn where Richard Gere and his wife have their farm to table restaurant, The Farmhouse, with both an a la carte dinner menu and tasting menu, has received some great reviews. The Barn with its more rustic, casual vibe is a little more wallet-friendly and does serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other great restaurants in the area include The Meeting House Restaurant, La Cremaillere, Ristorante Lucia, Bistro Twenty-Two and Bedford Gourmet.

In Katonah, there are also wonderful restaurants including Blue Dolphin Ristorante, Katonah Bar and Grille, Jimmy's Pub, Wooden Nickle, La Famiglia, Deer Park Tavern, Willy Nick's, Muscoot Inn, Tengda Asian Bistro, the cool Perk's Coffee, Peppino's Restaurant in the historic train station and Katonah Restaurant where you can have a pretty stellar breakfast all day long.

In Bedford Hills, you will find Nino’s, a popular family-friendly Italian restaurant with frequent celebrity sightings. They have fantastic pasta and their veal dishes have been a source of raves. There is also a nice ShopRite for your grocery needs with a nearby Panera Bread. Bedford Hills also has Gianfranco’s Pizza, Kicho Japanese Bistro, Bedford Diner and Restaurant, Salsa Fresco and McDonalds.

As for shopping, Bedford Village has two stores: Jewel Corner offering fine jewelry and repairs as well as Small Joys which sells really cool gifts, glassware, ceramics and bedding. Bedford Hills has a Kohl’s Department Store, a Marshall’s Shoe Store, Bedford House and Country Willow, both lovely home furnishing stores, a gift shop called James, Kitch n’ Kaffe, Pedigree Ski Shop, a cool consignment shop called Penny Pincher, several fashion boutiques, a golf store and Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop. Shopping can also be found in Katonah on Katonah Ave with its cute selection of antiques, consignment and home furnishing stores, gift shops, a consignment shop, children’s, men's and women's fashion boutiques, a card/stationary store, a beauty lounge, a book and music store, a jeweler and a hardware store.

The Bedford Historical Society who has been proudly preserving the integrity of the area since 1916, caretakes for two museums in Bedford: one at the 1787 Court House and one at the 1829 Schoolhouse. The society operates out of the old General Store where they have rotating exhibitions and even offer Bedford Souvenirs and penny candy. In the village you will also find the wonderful Bedford Playhouse, a two-house movie theatre. There is a wonderful community theatre in Bedford Hills which shows terrific plays and Broadway–style musicals. In sister hamlet Katonah, you have both the Katonah Museum of Art which hosts ten to twelve exemplary exhibitions each year as well as Caramoor Center for Music and Arts, a stunning mansion set amongst glorious grounds and gardens where they hold in-and-out-of-doors internationally acclaimed concerts and music festivals.

There are quite a few pleasant outdoor recreational opportunities in the general area, as well. Rosaforte Park has playing fields and a picnic area. Beaver Dam Sanctuary Park has walking trails and a designated dog park called Canine Commons, open to town of Bedford residents only. Bedford Hills Park and Bedford Memorial Park both have swimming pools and tennis courts. Bedford Hills is also home to the GlenArbor Golf Club, considered one of the finest and most beautiful courses in the world. Westmoreland Sanctuary, a 625-acre nature preserve with eight miles of really nice hiking trails. The village is also home to the Bedford Golf and Tennis Club.

Bedford Village is quite safe and the crime rate is pretty low.

The Bedford School District is excellent. The median SAT score of Fox Lane High School students is 1631.

The Bedford area is 79% White, 12% Hispanic, 5% Black and 3% Asian.

The median income for a household in Bedford Village is about $120,325. The median home value is around $725,434 and the median rental rate is roughly $2,000.

The population of Bedford Village is approximately 1,834 and the median age is 41,

Cute, charming and lovely get awfully repetitive when talking about Bedford but there are few other words that do justice to this section of Westchester County!

The Town of Bedford, which includes the villages of Bedford Hills, Katonah and Bedford Village, is a veritable celebrity magnet – Ralph Lauren, Richard Gere, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Glenn Close and Martha Steward are among the people who own estates in this star-studded community. And why not? It is close to Manhattan. It has incredibly lovely landscape reminiscent of English bucolic paintings in many stretches. It is the kind of country that you’ll see in those stylish-living magazines – more horses and Jodhpurs than farms and tractors! If you can afford it, it is a place of great beauty developed to be convenient and comfortable, without destroying any of its natural loveliness.

But Bedford is not only home to the gliterrati – there are many working professionals who appreciate what the neighborhood has to offer and cherish the unique advantages of life in the Town of Bedford. For many of these families, the number one draw of Bedford is the school system. The public school here provides excellent education and many accelerated programs and services that are comparable to the best schools anywhere.

Bedford living is not just about equestrian excitement because there are fine dining restaurants, the world-class Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts and innumerable hiking, biking and fishing opportunities. Whether you are a golf enthusiast or a history buff, Bedford can keep you occupied and engaged.

It is worth noting here that while Bedford has many glamorous residents, it is not overtly pretentious. While there are pockets where the air does feel rarefied, there are many sections of Bedford that are accessible, warm and friendly. It is good place to call home or to just stop by for a Sunday brunch.

As the symbolic mascot of the town of Bedford, the historic Bedford Oak, a 23-foot wide glorious white oak has stood tall and proud for over 200 years and has been vehemently protected by its residents. Bedford and the four hamlets that comprise it, Bedford Hills, Bedford Village, Bedford Corners and Katonah, are rich in charm, warmth and historical prestige. Even in light of its fair amount of wealth, there is an unmistakable small town community feel here and people seem to really know one another and stop to chat or wave hello on the streets.

The Bedford Post Inn is an eight-room luxury inn with a yoga studio, daily classes, cool workshops and special events. It is where Richard Gere and his wife have their farm to table restaurant, The Farmhouse, with its excellent a la carte dinner and tasting menu which has received scores of accolades. There is also The Barn with its rustic beams and more casual vibe and breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings.

Other great restaurants in the area include The Meeting House Restaurant, La Cremaillere, Ristorante Lucia, Bistro Twenty-Two and Bedford Gourmet.

Bedford does have one notable store called Small Joys, which is a treasure hunter’s delight and is filled with cool gifts and small home decorative items. In Bedford Hills, the shopping center has a newly renovated Shop Rite, a Marshall’s Shoes and a Panera. Katonah has a small slice of stores in its village including antique and home furnishing stores, a gift shop, a consignment shop, children’s boutiques, women’s boutiques, a card/stationary store, a book and music store, a beauty lounge, a jeweler, a hardware store, and a funky little coffee shop called Noka Joes.

Bedford is very safe and there is little crime.

The school system is very good and the median SAT score of Fox Lane High School students is 1631.

The median household income is $150,000. The median home value is $725,434 and the median rental rate is $2,000.

Bedford is 79% White, 12% Hispanic, 5% Black and 3% Asian.

The population of Bedford is approximately 18, 133 with the median age being 41.

Bedford houses three hamlets: Katonah, Bedford Hills and Bedford Corners. Bedford Hills was used in a scene in “What a Wonderful Life”, when Dick Van Dyke is running through the town, after finding a new-found zest for life. Actors Chevy Chase and Billy Baldwin, as well as Martha Stewart (among others) have found their home here. It’s home to the Katonah Museum of Art (currently, tin honor of the Year of the Dragon, they’re hosting a showcase of Contemporary Chinese Photography, and there’s a part of the museum that’s solely reserved for kids). There’s also hidden treasures such as Carmoor, a pleasant place filled with beautiful grounds (including a breathtaking flower and plant garden) that makes you feel like you’ve zoomed back to Elizabethan times. People come here to see fantastic concerts (lots of classical, but there’s other stuff too). Homes include such types as ancient---yet still charming---historic houses, gables and old Victorian mansions.

Byram Lake is a beautiful spot to enjoy nature, fish, picnic or take a rowboat ride. It’s on the back roads so it might take some time getting there, but it’s an easy route---even from Mt. Kisco. You’ll feel like you just escaped to a quaint little countryside, and you can sit and meditate and forget your worries; simply let the troubles of the world fall away.

Katonah is an amazing little village with a coffee shop, Mrs. Green’s, pizza place (fantastic pizza), old-fashioned library, and funky little shops that align the main street. The main street also has a train station, easy to access as it’s right in the middle of town, and you can walk all over Katonah without a problem.

Bedford Hills is mainly surrounding Rt. 117 (also known as Bedford Road). You can go shop for clothes at Khol’s or have a bite to eat at Applebee’s. A funky fun store to visit in Bedford Hills is “Birds Unlimited”, with plenty of things to adorn your front, back or side yard, especially if you wish to attract nature (birds especially!) or plant a garden.

Bedford Corners is near the woods surrounding Mt. Kisco, and offers a quiet backdrop to the busier areas of Bedford.

Schools and medical care can’t be beat; it’s some of the best education and doctors you’ll ever find in Westchester (or NY). While it’s a little pricey, it’s well worth your pay!

Highly recommended as a place to raise your kids that they’ll be sure to never forget!

Located in northeastern Westchester, Bedford includes three villages that have separate fire departments, parks, libraries, business districts, pools, and post offices. However, all three villages are run by a single government and share two school districts. While the quality of life varies a little among those different areas, Bedford is a very peaceful and affluent country town overall. That isn’t to say that it’s exclusively expensive. There is a pretty good range of homes in terms of prices. However, the median income and median housing price are pretty high in Bedford. The population of Bedford is almost entirely white, with a small percentage of African Americans and a tiny percentage of Asians. Bedford has a tightly knit community of homeowners who take care to maintain their properties as well as Bedford’s small town vibe. The people here are very proud of the fact that Bedford is the hometown of several successful people such as artists and entertainers. Both of the school districts that serve Bedford are excellent and the students consistently perform well. There’s a quaint historic district and there are some shops and restaurants. However, Bedford is almost entirely residential. In my opinion, Bedford is a nice place to live if you are looking for a quiet place to have a family.