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Bessemer, AL

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Bessemer, AL

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Demographics

Predominantly BlackSimpson's Diversity Index: 46
Population25,655
Foreign Born3.1%
Population Density631people per mi²
Median Age42.8 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

66/100

34% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Bessemer, Alabama

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$28k
Comfortable $25k$37k
Luxury $68k+$106k+
Elite (Top 5%) $93k+$144k+
Affordability Ratio

102%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean91%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
13
Positive
40
Poor
6
Negative
1

Groceries

1 within 10 miles

8.3mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

10.7mi

Airport

Bessemer National Airport - Mitchell Field - EKY

6.4mi

Post Office

USPS — Birmingham, AL

12mi

Critical Amenities

Golf2Nearest 1.9 mi
Camping20Nearest 11.7 mi
Marina0Nearest 12.7 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 131.6 mi
Gun Range2Nearest 7.4 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D-
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$38k+8.3%
50% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$170k
74% below US avg
College Educated
14.4%
59% below US avg
WFH
9.6%
33% below US avg
Homeownership
55.1%
16% below US avg
Median Home
$130k
54% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
F
High Risk

Significantly higher crime rates than 92% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
86.6
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+356.2%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+297.3%
Homicide
0.40 / 1k Residents373% above state avg
Robbery
1.65 / 1k Residents446% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
14.29 / 1k Residents413% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr+415.1%
Burglary
7.49 / 1k Residents250% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
56.14 / 1k Residents418% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
5.51 / 1k Residents246% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+13Leans Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Bessemer, Alabama
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%200020042008

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B-
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Weak9.8% of income
Property Rights
D
WeakIJ Grade D
Firearm Rights
A-
GreatFPC Grade A-
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (45% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
F
ProhibitedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season244 days336 frost-free
Annual Rainfall58.7"
Elevation515 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C+
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A-
Good873 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak631/sq mi
Fallout Danger
C-
Weak5 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 710 mi · coast 197 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$262.4M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityAtlanta499k people are 150 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital81 miMontgomery, AL
Nearest Prison12 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T18:44:17.000Z

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