Population

Bessemer

25,655

Muskegon

37,203

Median Income

Bessemer

$37,844

Muskegon

$46,342

Home Value

Bessemer

$129,800

Muskegon

$121,800

Rent

Bessemer

$922

Muskegon

$927

Crime Rate

Bessemer

17.44

Muskegon

2.56

Cost of Living

Bessemer

79.5

Muskegon

83.6

Avg Temp

Bessemer

N/A

Muskegon

N/A

Unemployment

Bessemer

8.8%

Muskegon

9.3%

Loading map…

How Similar Are Bessemer & Muskegon?

Muskegon is Bessemer's #12 most similar city

4/10

4 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Bessemer

25,655

vs

Muskegon

37,203

Different · 31% difference

Muskegon has a 31% larger population than Bessemer.

Violent Crime

Bessemer

17.44

vs

Muskegon

2.56

Different · 85% difference
🚨

Bessemer's violent crime is significantly higher than Muskegon's — 85% difference.

Property Crime

🔒

Bessemer

71.24

vs

Muskegon

8.39

Different · 88% difference

Bessemer's property crime is significantly higher than Muskegon's — 88% difference.

Political Leaning

Bessemer

44.2%

vs

Muskegon

50.2%

Different · 12% difference
🗳️

Bessemer leans Democratic while Muskegon leans Republican.

Unemployment

💼

Bessemer

8.8%

vs

Muskegon

9.3%

Match · 6% difference

Both cities have similar unemployment — just a 6% difference.

Median Income

Bessemer

$37,844

vs

Muskegon

$46,342

Different · 18% difference
💰

Muskegon has a 18% higher median income than Bessemer.

Home Values

🏠

Bessemer

$129,800

vs

Muskegon

$121,800

Match · 6% difference

Both cities have similar home values — just a 6% difference.

Education

Bessemer

10.1%

vs

Muskegon

10.4%

Match · 3% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 3% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Bessemer

19.8%

vs

Muskegon

55.2%

Different · 64% difference

Muskegon's demographics is significantly higher than Bessemer's — 64% difference.

Cost of Living

Bessemer

79.5

vs

Muskegon

83.6

Match · 5% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 5% difference.

4 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Bessemer and Muskegon share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Bessemer

vsof 8

0

Muskegon

Muskegon leads in 4 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Bessemer leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Muskegon has a fair market rent (1br) of $942 vs $1,155 in Bessemer (23% lower). Bessemer scores 78.9 on the food index (100 = national avg) vs 85.4 in Muskegon. Bessemer scores 83.1 on the healthcare index (100 = national avg) vs 88.3 in Muskegon.

Overall Cost Index

Bessemer79.5
Muskegon83.6

Housing Index

Bessemer84.1
Muskegon86.3

Food Index

Bessemer78.9
Muskegon85.4

Transportation Index

Bessemer85.6
Muskegon82.1

Healthcare Index

Bessemer83.1
Muskegon88.3

Utilities Index

Bessemer84.2
Muskegon88.5

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Bessemer$34,984
Muskegon$36,804

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Bessemer$82,690
Muskegon$86,991

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Bessemer$1,155
Muskegon$942

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Bessemer$1,266
Muskegon$1,236

Housing Market — Bessemer leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Bessemer has a median property tax of $876 vs $1,475 in Muskegon (41% lower). Bessemer has a single-family homes of 76.3% compared to 68.2% in Muskegon. Muskegon has a vacancy rate of 14.4% compared to 16.0% in Bessemer.

Median Home Value

Bessemer$129,800
Muskegon$121,800

Median Rent

Bessemer$922
Muskegon$927

Median Property Tax

Bessemer$876
Muskegon$1,475

Owner-Occupied

Bessemer55.1%
Muskegon54.2%

Vacancy Rate

Bessemer16.0%
Muskegon14.4%

Single-Family Homes

Bessemer76.3%
Muskegon68.2%

Jobs & Economy — Muskegon leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Bessemer has a work from home of 9.6% compared to 5.0% in Muskegon. Muskegon has a poverty rate of 20.2% compared to 30.7% in Bessemer. Muskegon: 15,730 vs Bessemer: 10,375 for labor force.

Median Household Income

Bessemer$37,844
Muskegon$46,342

Per Capita Income

Bessemer$24,074
Muskegon$24,864

Poverty Rate

Bessemer30.7%
Muskegon20.2%

Unemployment Rate

Bessemer8.8%
Muskegon9.3%

Labor Force

Bessemer10,375
Muskegon15,730

Mean Commute

Bessemer23 min
Muskegon20 min

Work from Home

Bessemer9.6%
Muskegon5.0%

Private Sector

Bessemer83.3%
Muskegon85.4%

Government Sector

Bessemer39.7%
Muskegon40.5%

Crime & Safety — Muskegon leads

Source: FBI UCR

Muskegon has a larceny rate (per 1k) of 5.27 compared to 50.65 in Bessemer. Muskegon has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 8.39 compared to 71.24 in Bessemer. Muskegon has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.05 compared to 0.44 in Bessemer.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Bessemer17.44
Muskegon2.56

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Bessemer71.24
Muskegon8.39

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Bessemer0.44
Muskegon0.05

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Bessemer1.62
Muskegon0.22

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Bessemer14.77
Muskegon2.04

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Bessemer11.49
Muskegon1.43

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Bessemer50.65
Muskegon5.27

Violent Crime Clearance

Bessemer20.4%
Muskegon67.4%

Property Crime Clearance

Bessemer13.6%
Muskegon24.4%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

BessemerN/A
MuskegonN/A

Avg Annual High

BessemerN/A
MuskegonN/A

Avg Annual Low

BessemerN/A
MuskegonN/A

Sunny Days per Year

BessemerN/A
MuskegonN/A

Annual Rainfall

BessemerN/A
MuskegonN/A

Annual Snowfall

BessemerN/A
MuskegonN/A

Avg Humidity

BessemerN/A
MuskegonN/A

Schools & Education

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Bessemer has a high school diploma or higher of 38.2% compared to 35.6% in Muskegon. Muskegon has a bachelor's degree or higher of 10.4% compared to 10.1% in Bessemer.

Public Schools

Bessemer0
Muskegon0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

BessemerN/A
MuskegonN/A

Colleges & Universities

Bessemer0
Muskegon0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Bessemer10.1%
Muskegon10.4%

High School Diploma or Higher

Bessemer38.2%
Muskegon35.6%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Muskegon has a population of 37,203, about 1.5x the size of Bessemer (25,655). Muskegon skews younger with a median age of 36.0 vs 42.8.

Population

Bessemer25,655
Muskegon37,203

Median Age

Bessemer43
Muskegon36

Avg Household Size

Bessemer2.4
Muskegon2.4

Married Population

Bessemer24.3%
Muskegon25.2%

Foreign Born

Bessemer3.5%
Muskegon4.2%

White

Bessemer19.8%
Muskegon55.2%

Black

Bessemer70.6%
Muskegon29.9%

Hispanic

Bessemer8.2%
Muskegon11.1%

Asian

Bessemer0.2%
Muskegon0.7%

Bessemer

Muskegon

Healthcare — Muskegon leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Muskegon: 3.0 vs Bessemer: 2.8 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Bessemer5
Muskegon5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Bessemer2.8
Muskegon3.0

With Emergency Services

Bessemer5
Muskegon5

Transportation & Commute — Muskegon leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Bessemer has a public transit of 1.3% compared to 0.3% in Muskegon. Muskegon has a bicycle of 0.3% compared to 0.0% in Bessemer. Bessemer has a work from home of 9.6% compared to 5.0% in Muskegon.

Mean Commute Time

Bessemer23 min
Muskegon20 min

Drive Alone

Bessemer76.5%
Muskegon80.3%

Public Transit

Bessemer1.3%
Muskegon0.3%

Bicycle

Bessemer0.0%
Muskegon0.3%

Work from Home

Bessemer9.6%
Muskegon5.0%

Airports

Bessemer0
Muskegon0

Cities Similar to Bessemer, AL

Compare Bessemer against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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