Bessemer, Alabama
Among the top 7% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 10% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 65% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade F, better than 8% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 93% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 36% of US places
- top 10% for airport distance
- top 11% for walkability
- bottom 1% for property crime
Bessemer is a mid-size city in Alabama with about 26,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and F for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include airport distance, walkability, and park & nature access. It rates lower on violent crime and property crime.
- The median home value in Bessemer is $119k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Bessemer is $35k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Bessemer is $879 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Bessemer has a violent crime rate of 4283/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Bessemer is 25 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cool winters · Wet
cool
comf.
warm
hot
warm
comf.
cool
80%59%clearovercast
Precipitation 5.4 in4.0 in
muggy 91%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$35k7th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$49kbetter than 37% of US places
Home Value$119k33rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$879better than 54% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$6kbetter than 6% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.71%better than 72% of US places
Income Tax6.00%better than 27% of US places
State 5.00% + Local 1.00%
Sales Tax9.29%better than 8% of US places
Estimated total tax burden11.46%better than 32% of US places
Unemployment10.8%better than 12% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)45°F80th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)81°F79th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation58.4 in94th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall1.2 inbetter than 78% of US places
Sunny Days264 daysbetter than 82% of US places
Summer Humidity71°Fbetter than 10% of US places
Comfortable Days78 daysbetter than 40% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk36.8better than 85% of US places
Air Quality50 AQIbetter than 23% of US places
School Quality47.4better than 30% of US places
Violent Crime4283/100kbetter than 1% of US places
Property Crime7528/100kbetter than 0% of US places
Community
Population25,89094th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age41.854th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4478th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.8724th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1318th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)18.4%7th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)72.0%98th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)6.5%63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.2%57th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.0%52nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time25 minbetter than 58% of US places
Walkability11.0/20better than 89% of US places
Airport Distance18 mibetter than 90% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access78.7%better than 27% of US places
Amenities Nearby15.84better than 18% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 87% of US places
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bessemer an affordable place to live?
- Bessemer is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $49k, better than 37% of comparable areas. Median rent is $879.
- Is Bessemer safe?
- Bessemer is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 4283/100k (better than 1%). Property crime is 7528/100k.
- What is the weather like in Bessemer?
- Bessemer averages 81°F in July and 45°F in January, with 58.4 in of annual precipitation and about 264 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Bessemer?
- Public-school quality in Bessemer is below average, scoring better than 30% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Bessemer?
- The average one-way commute in Bessemer is 25 min.