At a Glance
Median Income
$37,844
$24,074 per capita
Home Value
$129,800
Zillow: $134,200
Median Rent
$922/mo
31.8% of income on rent
Violent Crime
1,748/100K
7,213/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
14.4%
86.9% high school+
Unemployment
8.8%
23.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
44.8%
19.3% smoking rate
How Bessemer Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Bessemer's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Bessemer a Good Place to Live?
C
2.4 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Bessemer residents earn a median household income of $37,844 , which is 50% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $24,074. The unemployment rate stands at 8.8% (144% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 23.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 22,923 business establishments, including 1,550 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Bessemer is $129,800 , 54% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $134,200. Median rent is $922/month, with 31.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 88.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1962.
Safety & Crime
Bessemer reports 1,748 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 360% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 7,213/100K. The murder rate is 44.5/100K.
Education
14.4% of adults in Bessemer hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(57% below the national average).
86.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Bessemer has an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C).
Winters average 45°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 55.5 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 57.
Data Overview
People
Population25,655
Median Age42.8 yrs
Density631/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born3.5%
Veterans7.7%
Economy
D
Median Income$37,844
Per Capita$24,074
Unemployment8.8%
Poverty23.9%
County GDP$65,539M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,376
Housing
A+
Home Value$129,800
Rent$922
Ownership55.1%
Zillow$134,200
Housing Units12,462
Rent Burden31.8%
Crime
F
Violent1,748/100K
Property7,213/100K
Murder44.5/100K
Assault1,477/100K
Burglary1,153/100K
Health
Obesity44.8%
Diabetes18.5%
Smoking19.3%
Heart Disease7.0%
Premature Death13,164/100K
Climate
Avg Temp64°F
Rain55.5 in/yr
AQI57 (Moderate)
Elevation514 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+14.4%
High School+86.9%
Graduate+4.8%
School Score4.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 44% / D 55%
Commute26 min
Broadband81.5%
Internet Speed187 Mbps
EV Stations11
Libraries40
Did You Know?
The median home in Bessemer was built in 1962.
The nearest airport is Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (18 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.505 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
24.7% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 187 Mbps.
There are 1,550 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 94 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.