Commute
High commute scores indicates that public transit should be easily accessible in this area and the average commute time to work is less than average.
Cost Of Living
The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Amenities
A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.
Crime
This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.
Employment
A low score in the employment category could indicate that this area struggles with high unemployment rates and low household income and income per capita levels.
Health & Safety
Poor air quality and the inaccessibility of certain health related facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors and pharmacies could have all contributed to the low score in this category.
Schools
Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.
Bessemer, Alabama is a medium-sized city with a population of 26,063 inhabitants. In Bessemer, the most common ethnic group is Black or African American with a total of 73%. This is followed by 22% White and 0% Asian ethnic groups. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Bessemer, only 41% of the population is married. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Bessemer, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 24 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Bessemer could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Alabama if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Bessemer, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, cost of living, health & safety, housing and more.
Bessemer, AL receives 63/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #103 in Alabama and #13,185 in the USA. If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Bessemer has higher than average scores for the following: cost of living (A+) and housing (B+). Bessemer does not score well for the following: amenities (F), crime (F) and employment (F). It might be a good idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
Finding affordable real estate and housing in Bessemer can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.
Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Bessemer. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Bessemer are affordable. Median real estate prices in Bessemer come in at $100,100, which is 22.1% lower than the Alabama average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Bessemer, the home price to income ratio is 3.3, which is 13.8% higher than the Alabama average.
| Statistic | Bessemer | Alabama | National |
| Average one way commute | 24min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 76.8% | 85.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 12.2% | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.6% | 0.4% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.0% | 1.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 6.8% | 2.9% | 4.6% |
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