The Town FilesBessemer, Michigan
City in Gogebic County · population 1,805 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $69,900
- Household income
- $53,523
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 186 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 48.2
Bessemer is a city of 1,805 people in Gogebic County, Michigan. The median home is worth $69,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 96% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 95% of Michigan towns.
How Bessemer ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bessemer is worth $69,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $53,523, which is more affordable than 100% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $546 a month. 72.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bessemer | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $69,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $546 | $955 |
| Median household income | $53,523 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1943 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.4% | — |
Who lives in Bessemer
| People | Bessemer | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Bessemer
July highs average 76.3°F and January lows 3.9°F. About 37.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 185.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bessemer since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 11, 2016 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 28, 2006.
Severe weather in Gogebic County since 1996
Gogebic County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| August 2, 2018 | Flood | DR-4381: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Gogebic County
Gogebic County had 5,046 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,384 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Bessemer itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Bessemer
2 public schools with 352 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington School | K-6 | 178 | 11.1 |
| AD Johnston JrSr High School | 7-12 | 174 | 14.5 |
Towns near Bessemer
- Ironwood, MI5.1 mi · 5,045 people · home $83,100
- Wakefield, MI5.5 mi · 1,702 people · home $79,100
- Ironwood, MI7.5 mi · 2,214 people · home $152,600
- Hurley, WI8.0 mi · 1,558 people · home $86,700
- Bessemer, MI8.5 mi · 1,135 people · home $103,900
- Montreal, WI9.6 mi · 801 people · home $97,800
- Winchester, WI19.2 mi · 528 people · home $395,100
- Mercer, WI21.9 mi · 551 people · home $212,500
Bessemer questions
Is Bessemer, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bessemer scores better for retirees than 73% of Michigan towns and quieter than 28%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Bessemer?
The median owner-occupied home in Bessemer is valued at $69,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,523, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $546 a month.
What is the weather like in Bessemer?
July highs average 76.3°F and January lows 3.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.4 inches of precipitation a year and 185.5 inches of snow.
Does Bessemer get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bessemer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 11, 2016. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)