CensusEasy
CITY

Bessemer City

North Carolina · 5,834 residents (2025 est.) · 5.643 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Charlotte metro area
Compare
The short version

Bessemer City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $60,300. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $206,100. At a median age of 34.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 56%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,580
+9%since 2000
from 5,119 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
989 / sq mi
+9%since 2000
from 907 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.3
+2%since 2000
from 33.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,834 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K5K5K6K1990201020202024Bessemer City
20246K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,300
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,826 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,527
+79%since 2000
from $15,971 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.7%
+27.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.4%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.414
+3%since 2010
from 0.402 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information24.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade14.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade13.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$206,100
+56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,053
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $459 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 66.2% in 2000
34.0% rent
Vacancy rate
12.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.0%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 56.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+60%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
78
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bessemer City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic81.5%(4,173)
Black13.1%(671)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(179)
Asian0.6%(30)
Other0%
Diversity Score37.4%(1,914)
2024
White, non-Hispanic74.9%(4,179)
Black13%(725)
Hispanic / Latino8.6%(479)
Asian0.4%(22)
Other3.1%(175)
Diversity Score51.7%(2,887)
Diversity Score
52
+38%since 2000
from 37 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.1%
+8.4 ptssince 2000
from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.9%
+14.3 ptssince 2000
from 68.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.6 min
+78%since 2000
from 15.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.4%
−12.5 ptssince 2009
from 89.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.0%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.1%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.9%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.9%
−16.8 ptssince 2011
from 22.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2011
from 62.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.5%
−23.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Female
48.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Foreign born
5.4%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.9%
−41.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.0%
+6.7 ptssince 2012
from 13.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.9%
−63.8 ptssince 2013
from 75.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.4%
+21.5 ptssince 2017
from 61.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.5%
−10.8 ptssince 2016
from 98.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.5%
+7.0 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Bessemer City

Ocean City
Pop 5,941
Okeechobee
Pop 5,811
Edgemoor
Pop 6,349
Floral City
Pop 5,437
Places similar to Bessemer City
Head to head

Compare Bessemer City to nearby cities

BESSEMER CITY VS
Kings Mountain
Income$49,564−18%
Home value$204,100−1%
Population12,117+108%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BESSEMER CITY VS
Gastonia
Income$64,059+6%
Home value$277,600+35%
Population87,067+1392%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BESSEMER CITY VS
Lincolnton
Income$46,320−23%
Home value$248,700+21%
Population12,465+114%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BESSEMER CITY VS
Belmont
Income$94,883+57%
Home value$395,000+92%
Population16,415+181%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bessemer City, North Carolina?

Bessemer City, North Carolina has about 5,580 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bessemer City, North Carolina?

The typical household in Bessemer City, North Carolina earns about $60,300 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bessemer City, North Carolina expensive?

In Bessemer City, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $206,100, and the typical rent is about $1,053 a month.

How educated are people in Bessemer City, North Carolina?

About 16.1% of adults age 25 and over in Bessemer City, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bessemer City, North Carolina?

About 16.4% of people in Bessemer City, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bessemer City, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Bessemer City, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 882 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
North Carolina
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Bessemer City with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →