Bessemer vs Ironwood
Bessemer, Michigan versus Ironwood, Michigan: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Bessemer edges out Ironwood on overall objective livability (54 vs 46 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Bessemer | Ironwood |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $49k | $36k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $46k |
| Home Value | $86k | $68k |
| Monthly Rent | $482 | $491 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $645 | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.90% | 2.04% |
| Income Tax | 4.30% | 4.30% |
| Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.61% | 10.15% |
| Unemployment | 4.4% | 10.8% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 13°F | 13°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 67°F | 67°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.4 in | 37.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 185.5 in | 185.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 237 days | 237 days |
| Summer Humidity | 56°F | 56°F |
| Comfortable Days | 64 days | 64 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 43.3 | 45.2 |
| Air Quality | 41 AQI | 41 AQI |
| School Quality | 39.6 | 44.3 |
| Violent Crime | 0/100k | 1255/100k |
| Property Crime | 0/100k | 1314/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 1,708 | 5,088 |
| Median Age | 50.4 | 51.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.12 | 0.08 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.80 | 0.99 |
| Political Leaning | R+23 | R+23 |
| White (%) | 93.4% | 94.6% |
| Black (%) | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.0% | 3.0% |
| Asian (%) | 1.3% | 0.7% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.0% | 1.7% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Walkability | 7.4/20 | 8.7/20 |
| Airport Distance | 189 mi | 183 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.9% | 79.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 81.97 | 115.96 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bessemer or Ironwood more affordable?
- Ironwood has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Bessemer's $46k and Ironwood's $46k. Median rent is $482 in Bessemer versus $491 in Ironwood.
- Is Bessemer or Ironwood safer?
- Bessemer has the lower violent crime rate. Bessemer reports 0/100k and Ironwood reports 1255/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Bessemer or Ironwood?
- The median home value is $86k in Bessemer and $68k in Ironwood, so homes are more affordable in Ironwood.