What are the schools like in Bessemer, AL?

Bessemer is served primarily by Bessemer City. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.4:1.

What is the median household income in Bessemer?

The median household income in Bessemer, AL is $34,953 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.8%.

What is the weather like in Bessemer, AL?

Bessemer has an average high temperature of 55.7°F in January and 91.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 58.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.2 inches.

Bessemer, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bessemer, AL affordable or expensive?

Bessemer's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bessemer is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $118,600 and the median rent is $879 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bessemer, AL?

Bessemer has a violent crime rate of 1743.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 7123.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bessemer, AL a Good Place to Live?

Bessemer is a small city of 25,890 in Alabama, with a median household income of $34,953 and a 10.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Bessemer stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Bessemer is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bessemer city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.6

Bessemer's overall cost of living index is 92.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bessemer costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bessemer, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$118,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$879	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	54.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$34,953	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Bessemer's violent crime rate is 1743.5 per 100,000 residents — 359% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1743.5 /100k

Property Crime

7123.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bessemer is served primarily by Bessemer City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.4:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bessemer, AL	National Avg
School District	Bessemer City	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	19.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bessemer sees average highs of 55.7°F in January and 91.8°F in July, with 58.4 inches of annual precipitation and 1.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bessemer, AL
Average High — January	55.7°F
Average High — July	91.8°F
Annual Precipitation	58.4"
Annual Snowfall	1.2"

Demographics

Metric	Bessemer, AL	National Avg
Population	25,890	—
Median Age	41.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	19.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	72.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	20.9%	22.2%
65 and over	20.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hueytown, AL 4 mi Lipscomb, AL 5 mi Brighton, AL 5 mi McCalla, AL 6 mi Midfield, AL 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Bessemer

Bessemer, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

35022 35020

Bessemer vs Other Cities

Bessemer, AL vs Hueytown, AL Bessemer, AL vs Lipscomb, AL Bessemer, AL vs Brighton, AL Bessemer, AL vs McCalla, AL Bessemer, AL vs Midfield, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bessemer, AL affordable or expensive?

Bessemer's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bessemer roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $118,600 and median rent is $879/month.

What is the crime rate in Bessemer, AL?

Bessemer's violent crime rate is 1743.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 7123.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bessemer?

Public schools in Bessemer are operated by Bessemer City. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.4:1. 13.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bessemer, AL a good place to live?

Bessemer, AL has a population of 25,890, a median household income of $34,953, and an unemployment rate of 10.8%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bessemer?

Bessemer averages 55.7°F in January and 91.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.4 inches with about 1.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bessemer?

Bessemer, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 35022, 35020.

What is the population of Bessemer?

The population of Bessemer, Alabama is 25,890 with a median age of 41.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bessemer?

Key numbers for living in Bessemer: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $118,600, median household income $34,953, crime index 400 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bessemer side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.