Is Bessemer City, NC a Good Place to Live?
Bessemer City is a small town of 5,472 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $44,440 and a 6.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.
Strengths: Bessemer City stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Bessemer City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Bessemer City 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: 97.0Bessemer City's overall cost of living index is 97.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bessemer City costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Bessemer City, NC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $139,100 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $882 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.0% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $44,440 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageBessemer City's violent crime rate is 457.3 per 100,000 residents — 20% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Bessemer City is served primarily by Gaston County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Bessemer City, NC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Gaston County Schools | — |
| Elementary Schools | 30 | — |
| Middle Schools | 11 | — |
| High Schools | 13 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 15.9:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.8% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 79.1% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Bessemer City sees average highs of 52.7°F in January and 90.7°F in July, with 44.0 inches of annual precipitation and 1.2 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Bessemer City, NC |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 52.7°F |
| Average High — July | 90.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | Bessemer City, NC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,472 | — |
| Median Age | 38.5 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 21.6 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 81.2% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 10.1% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5.4% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.1% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 16.6% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Bessemer City
Bessemer City, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: