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City · 25,400 residents · Jefferson County, Alabama

Bessemer , Alabama

In Bessemer, a typical home is worth $135,900 and typical rent is $961 a month. Compared with all of Jefferson County, the typical home value is 43% lower, typical household income is 40% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 6 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $135,900

    43% below the county

    35% below Alabama

    • Bessemer
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Typical rent

    $961a month

    19% below the county

    5% below Alabama

    • Bessemer
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Typical household income

    $39,613a year

    40% below the county

    38% below Alabama

    • Bessemer
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Households that own their home

    57%

    6 points below the county

    13 points below Alabama

    • Bessemer
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$131,838
0.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,349 a month
1.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Bessemer is in Jefferson County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Jefferson County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Bessemer apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. The typical home in Bessemer is worth $135,900, 43% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($240,000).

  2. The typical household income in Bessemer is $39,613, 40% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($66,388).

  3. Nearby, in Midfield, the typical home value is $107,600: 21% less than in Bessemer ($135,900).

  4. The typical rent in Bessemer is $961 a month, 19% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($1,193).

  5. 57% of households in Bessemer own their home, against 64% in Jefferson County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Bessemer

What homes there are in Bessemer, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house rules in Bessemer: 74% of homes, more than in Jefferson County (69%).

Year built

Homes in Bessemer are older: the typical year built is 1963; in Jefferson County, 1975.

There are fewer big homes in Bessemer than in Jefferson County: 57% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 64%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA limit for Jefferson County is high ($541,287): at least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Bessemer are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Bessemer cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,375): about 80%.

With a mortgage

$1,246 a month

Jefferson County: $1,619 a month

Without a mortgage

$464 a month

Jefferson County: $533 a month

Owners with a mortgage

56%

Jefferson County: 60%

In Bessemer, 56% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,246 a month, against $1,619 in Jefferson County. Without one it drops to $464.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Bessemer rose 57% since 2015–2019, more than in Jefferson County (51%).

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Bessemer rose 29%, less than in Jefferson County (33%).

Housing prices ran ahead of income in Bessemer: typical income rose 23%, against +57% for home values and +29% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureBessemerJefferson CountyAlabamaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.0%7.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.2%1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.6%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.272.402.482.53
Drive alone 76%77%81%69%
Carpool 11%8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%1%3%
Work from home 9%11%9%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Bessemer are smaller: 2.27 people on average; in Jefferson County, 2.40.

Carpooling is common in Bessemer: 11% of workers get to work that way, against 8% in Jefferson County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Bessemer?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Bessemer, worth $135,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Bessemer, which is $39,613 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $46,899 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Jefferson County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Bessemer. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $4,757 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,094

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$133,438
Total interest
$191,986
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,295 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $924 a month

  • Tight

    $924 to $1,188 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $1,188 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Bessemer ($39,613 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,094
Principal & interest$904
Property tax$74
Home insurance$57
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$60

You need at least $4,757 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Bessemer and Jefferson County

Bessemer is in Jefferson County, Alabama. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Bessemer's own numbers

Typical home value
$135,900
Typical monthly rent
$961
Typical yearly household income
$39,613
Households that own their home
57%
Effective property tax rate
0.65%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Jefferson County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,375
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+38%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Jefferson County.

Everything about Jefferson County

Buying

Buying a home in Bessemer

A typical home in Bessemer is worth $135,900: 43% below the county and 35% below Alabama. With the typical household income in Bessemer ($39,613 a year), a typical home costs 3.4 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Bessemer 3.4 years
  • Jefferson 3.6 years
  • Alabama 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Jefferson County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Jefferson County rose 73% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Jefferson County.

Period County Alabama U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.2% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +38% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +73% +77% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Bessemer next to Jefferson County, Alabama and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Bessemer $135,900
  • Jefferson $240,000
  • Alabama $209,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Bessemer $961
  • Jefferson $1,193
  • Alabama $1,007
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Bessemer $39,613
  • Jefferson $66,388
  • Alabama $63,999
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Bessemer next to Jefferson County and Alabama
Measure Bessemer Jefferson County Alabama U.S.
Typical home value $135,900 $240,000 $209,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $961 $1,193 $1,007 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $39,613 $66,388 $63,999 $80,734
Households that own their home 57% 64% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $883 $1,409 $788 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.65% 0.59% 0.38% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 55% 54% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Jefferson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Bessemer

For a typical $135,900 home in Bessemer, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Bessemer's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,094a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,757
    Cash to close
    $8,834
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $60

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,069a month

    Down payment
    $6,795
    Cash to close
    $10,872
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $65

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $867a month

    Down payment
    $27,180
    Cash to close
    $31,257
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $992a month

    Down payment
    $20,385
    Cash to close
    $24,462
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Bessemer and for Jefferson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Bessemer

0.65%of the home’s value each year

$883 a year for the typical owner in Bessemer.

  • Bessemer 0.65%
  • Jefferson 0.59%
  • Alabama 0.38%

What Alabama publishes Basic homestead exemption (type H-1) (Alabama Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Alabama

Flood risk in Jefferson County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Jefferson County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.3%
5,592
Of those, with NFIP insurance
13%
County Alabama U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.3% 3.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 13% 29% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Bessemer

Typical rent in Bessemer is $961 a month: 19% below the county. In Bessemer, 55% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Jefferson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,375 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $26.44 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Jefferson County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,177 $22.63 $47,080
1 bedroom $1,263 $24.29 $50,520
2 bedrooms $1,375 $26.44 $55,000
3 bedrooms $1,727 $33.21 $69,080
4 bedrooms $1,941 $37.33 $77,640

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Bessemer

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Bessemer has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,120 in 35020 to $1,210 in 35022.

None is above the fair market rent for Jefferson County ($1,375).

  • 35020 $1,120$1,410
  • 35022 $1,210$1,520

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Bessemer when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Bessemer

HUD lists 14 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Bessemer. These are the largest.

  • Southside Homes 2317 Carolina Ter, Bessemer 35020 400 homes, 395 low-income · Run by Ha Bessemer · Average payment: $277 a month · Average wait: 17 months (205) 481-4420
  • Davis Heights & Asbury Howard Apts 624 22nd St N, Bessemer 35020 198 low-income homes · For families (205) 481-4420
  • Oak Ridge/Terrace MNR I/Terrace MNR II 4517 Little Dr, Bessemer 35022 172 low-income homes · Run by Jefferson County Housing Authority · Average payment: $446 a month · Average wait: 7 months · Homes at several sites (205) 849-0123
  • Braswell Homes 531 35th St N, Bessemer 35020 172 homes, 170 low-income · Run by Ha Bessemer · Average payment: $295 a month · Average wait: 14 months (205) 481-4420
  • Flint Hill Pointe 600 Flint Hill Ln, Bessemer 35022 136 low-income homes · 1 bd: 20 · 2 bd: 80 · 3 bd: 36 · In service since 1996 · For families

See all 128 buildings in Jefferson County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Bessemer

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 6 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Jefferson County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Bessemer

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Bessemer or Jefferson County. The ones below are statewide in Alabama: they work in Bessemer the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Alabama

  • Step Up

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority program with down payment assistance of 4% of the price (up to $10,000) as a 10-year second mortgage, alongside a 30-year fixed mortgage. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • First Step Mortgage Revenue Bonds

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority 30-year low-rate mortgage, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, with down payment assistance of 4% of the price, up to $10,000, as a ten-year second mortgage. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • Affordable Income Subsidy Grant

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority grant for closing costs with an HFA Advantage conventional loan: 1% of the loan if you earn up to 50% of the area median, or half a percent if you earn 50% to 80%. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Bessemer

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Bessemer, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Birmingham, AL

    529 Beacon Pkwy W Ste 204, Birmingham · 11 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (205) 942-8111

  • Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama

    200 6th Ave SW, Birmingham · 11 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (205) 942-5505

  • Birmingham Urban League, Inc.

    1229 3rd Ave N, Birmingham · 13 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (205) 326-0162

Every agency in Jefferson County All counseling agencies in Alabama

Help in Spanish near Bessemer

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Bessemer

HUD’s record names them for Bessemer or Jefferson County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Ha Bessemer Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (205) 481-4420
  • Jefferson County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (205) 849-0123

4 other authorities have an office in Jefferson County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Jefferson County

These cities are also in Jefferson County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Jefferson County Housing in Alabama
See 9 more cities in Jefferson County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Bessemer, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Jefferson County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Bessemer.

All guides
A father smiles as he carries his baby on his shoulders outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Bessemer

Short answers with the numbers for Bessemer and all of Jefferson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Bessemer?

The typical home value in Bessemer is $135,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Jefferson County it is $240,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Bessemer?

Typical rent in Bessemer is $961 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Jefferson County is $1,375.

What is the FHA loan limit in Bessemer?

Bessemer uses the FHA limit for all of Jefferson County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Bessemer?

The typical homeowner in Bessemer pays $883 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.65% of the home’s value; in Jefferson County, the rate is 0.59%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Bessemer?

There are 6 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Jefferson County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).