Bessemer is a small town of 912 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $58,750
and a 8.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Bessemer stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include 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: 91.5
Bessemer's overall cost of living index is 91.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Bessemer costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Bessemer, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$106,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$783
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$58,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Bessemer's violent crime rate is 29.2 per 100,000 residents
— 92% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
29.2 /100k
Property Crime
371.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Bessemer, PA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Bessemer sees average highs of 36.9°F in January
and 85.9°F in July,
with 41.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 27.5 inches of snow per year.
Bessemer's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Bessemer roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $106,000 and median rent is $783/month.
Bessemer's violent crime rate is 29.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 371.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Bessemer, PA has a population of 912, a median household income of $58,750, and an unemployment rate of 8.7%.
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.
Bessemer averages 36.9°F in January and 85.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.8 inches
with about 27.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Bessemer, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 16112.
The population of Bessemer, Pennsylvania is 912 with a median age of 44.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Bessemer: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $106,000, median household income $58,750, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer). 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.
