What are the schools like in Bessemer, MI?

Bessemer is served primarily by Bessemer Area School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.3:1.

What is the median household income in Bessemer?

The median household income in Bessemer, MI is $49,323 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.4%.

What is the weather like in Bessemer, MI?

Bessemer has an average high temperature of 20.3°F in January and 77.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 185.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Bessemer, MI affordable or expensive?

Bessemer's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bessemer is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $86,400 and the median rent is $482 per month.

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

Bessemer has a violent crime rate of 136.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 243.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bessemer, MI a Good Place to Live?

Bessemer is a small town of 1,708 in Michigan, with a median household income of $49,323 and a 4.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Bessemer stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 86.3

Bessemer's overall cost of living index is 86.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bessemer costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bessemer, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$86,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$482	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,323	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Bessemer's violent crime rate is 136.0 per 100,000 residents — 64% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

136.0 /100k

Property Crime

243.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Bessemer is served primarily by Bessemer Area School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bessemer, MI	National Avg
School District	Bessemer Area School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bessemer sees average highs of 20.3°F in January and 77.3°F in July, with 37.4 inches of annual precipitation and 185.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bessemer, MI
Average High — January	20.3°F
Average High — July	77.3°F
Annual Precipitation	37.4"
Annual Snowfall	185.5"

Demographics

Metric	Bessemer, MI	National Avg
Population	1,708	—
Median Age	50.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.8%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	17.9%	22.2%
65 and over	23.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ramsay, MI 3 mi Ironwood, MI 5 mi Wakefield, MI 6 mi Hurley, WI 8 mi Montreal, WI 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Bessemer

Bessemer, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49911

Bessemer vs Other Cities

Bessemer, MI vs Ramsay, MI Bessemer, MI vs Ironwood, MI Bessemer, MI vs Wakefield, MI Bessemer, MI vs Hurley, WI Bessemer, MI vs Montreal, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bessemer, MI affordable or expensive?

Bessemer's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bessemer roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $86,400 and median rent is $482/month.

What is the crime rate in Bessemer, MI?

Bessemer's violent crime rate is 136.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 243.3 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 Area School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 22.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bessemer, MI a good place to live?

Bessemer, MI has a population of 1,708, a median household income of $49,323, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. 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 20.3°F in January and 77.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.4 inches with about 185.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bessemer?

Bessemer, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49911.

What is the population of Bessemer?

The population of Bessemer, Michigan is 1,708 with a median age of 50.4. 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 86 (100 = US average), median home $86,400, median household income $49,323, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. 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.