Racial and ethnic composition 2023 American Community Survey As of the 2023
American Community Survey, there are 10,598 estimated households in Bessemer with an average of 2.36 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $37,844. Approximately 30.7% of the city's population lives at or below the
poverty line. Bessemer has an estimated 50.0% employment rate, with 14.4% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 86.9% holding a high school diploma.
Ancestry The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (92.5%), Spanish (6.8%), Indo-European (0.5%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.1%), and Other (0.1%).
2020 census As of the
2020 census, Bessemer had a population of 26,019 and 10,628 households, of which 6,536 were families. The
population density was . There were 12,218 housing units at an average density of . Of the 10,628 households, 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 25.6% were married-couple households, 23.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 45.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 12,218 housing units, of which 13.0% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%.
2010 census As of the
2010 census, there were 27,456 people, 10,711 households, and _ families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 12,369 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 24.29%
White, 71.19%
African American, 0.32%
Native American, 0.19%
Asian, 0.00%
Pacific Islander, 3.13% from some other races and 0.88% from two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.05% of the population.
2000 census As of the
2000 census, there were 29,672 people, 11,537 households, and 7,868 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 12,790 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 28.93%
White, 69.55%
African American, 0.28%
Native American, 0.18%
Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander, 0.30% from some other races and 0.74% from two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.14% of the population. There were 11,537 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.6% were
married couples living together, 29.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.12. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $23,066, and the median income for a family was $28,230. Males had a median income of $29,413 versus $21,552 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $12,232. About 24.2% of families and 27.2% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 37.8% of those under age 18 and 24.7% of those age 65 or over. ==Economy==