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Living in
Bessemer.
About
Life in Bessemer
Living in Bessemer means settling into a place with deep industrial roots that's actively working to reinvent itself. The median household income sits around $39,613, and home values average $135,900, making it relatively affordable compared to larger metros—rent runs about $961 a month. The job market has improved with the Amazon fulfillment center bringing 1,500 positions, plus ongoing manufacturing through U.S.
Bessemer at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
27.9%
Foreign-Born
4.0%
Broadband Internet
83.8%
of households
Population Growth
-3.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Bessemer: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bessemer, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (53.5%), and 9.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.0%
of residents
65 and Older
22.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.7%
of households
Married Couples
23.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.27
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for AL
Rent, home values, and income in Bessemer
In Bessemer, home values are 35% below the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$883
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
14.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $131,838 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts above AL average
Unemployment in Bessemer and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Bessemer is 1 percentage points higher than the AL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Bessemer Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Birmingham-Hoover, AL metro area
Commute26.2 min avg
How Bessemer residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bessemer, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 146 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 417% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bessemer runs 417% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,702.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
6,989.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bessemer Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jefferson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jefferson County, which includes Bessemer, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.0M |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 25 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Bessemer is about 4% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes Bessemer, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
159
per year
Moderate Days
204
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Bessemer is about 4% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate91°F summers, 36°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bessemer has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 36°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/51°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/69°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
77°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/36°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
58.4"
Annual Snowfall
1.2"
Hot Days/Year
80
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
57
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 34°F | 5.40" |
| Feb | 61°F | 37°F | 5.38" |
| Mar | 68°F | 43°F | 5.42" |
| Apr | 76°F | 50°F | 5.11" |
| May | 83°F | 59°F | 4.55" |
| Jun | 89°F | 67°F | 4.53" |
| Jul | 92°F | 71°F | 4.76" |
| Aug | 92°F | 70°F | 3.98" |
| Sep | 87°F | 64°F | 3.45" |
| Oct | 77°F | 53°F | 3.26" |
| Nov | 66°F | 42°F | 4.45" |
| Dec | 58°F | 37°F | 5.20" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bessemer
Bessemer has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
14.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Medical West, An Affiliate of UAB Health System
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Princeton Baptist Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.5 mi away · Birmingham
Shelby Baptist Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.3 mi away · Alabaster
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13 mi away · Birmingham
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education21.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bessemer
Bessemer's student/teacher ratio is 21.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 15.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Bessemer (within 15 miles)
University of Alabama at Birmingham
13.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,635 students · in-state tuition $9,812 · 58% graduate · median earnings $59,631 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,206 students · in-state tuition $41,910 · 78% graduate · median earnings $66,982 (10 yrs after entry)
Lawson State Community College
7.3 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 2,900 students · in-state tuition $5,215 · 26% graduate · median earnings $36,457 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 1,196 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 13% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 442 students · in-state tuition $13,820 · 42% graduate · median earnings $44,255 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bessemer
Bessemer has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
14 mi awayFreedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
64 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
77 mi awaySelma To Montgomery National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
77 mi awayTuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
National Historic Site
98 mi awayTuskegee Institute National Historic Site
National Historic Site
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bessemer
Bessemer Public Library
400 19th Street N, Bessemer
Cities Near Bessemer
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bessemer?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bessemer FAQ
Is Bessemer, Alabama affordable?⌄
Bessemer's median rent is $961/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $39,613/year. Median home value is $135,900.
Is Bessemer, Alabama safe?⌄
Bessemer's violent crime rate was 1702 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 6990 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bessemer, Alabama?⌄
Bessemer has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bessemer, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Bessemer is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $961/month and median household income is $39,613/year. The median home value is $135,900. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bessemer, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Bessemer is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from