The Town FilesBessemer, Pennsylvania
Borough in Lawrence County · population 1,076 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,700
- Household income
- $65,893
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 44.2
Bessemer is a borough of 1,076 people in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $122,700, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 76% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Bessemer ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bessemer is worth $122,700, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $65,893, which is more affordable than 91% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $869 a month. 80.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bessemer | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $869 | $996 |
| Median household income | $65,893 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.2% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bessemer
| People | Bessemer | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Bessemer
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 41.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bessemer since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 9, 2001 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 2, 1998.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
Jobs and pay in Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 26,838 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,927 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Bessemer itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Towns near Bessemer
- North Beaver, PA2.8 mi · 3,962 people · home $174,500
- New Middletown, OH3.7 mi · 1,507 people · home $173,300
- Mahoning, PA4.0 mi · 2,708 people · home $134,500
- Lowellville, OH5.0 mi · 996 people · home $85,600
- Union, PA5.4 mi · 4,996 people · home $119,100
- Oakwood, PA6.2 mi · 2,215 people · home $118,400
- Oakland, PA6.2 mi · 1,437 people · home $125,800
- New Springfield, OH7.1 mi · 579 people · home $114,100
Bessemer questions
Is Bessemer, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bessemer scores better for retirees than 35% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 56%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Bessemer?
The median owner-occupied home in Bessemer is valued at $122,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,893, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $869 a month.
What is the weather like in Bessemer?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.8 inches of precipitation a year and 27.5 inches of snow.
Does Bessemer get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bessemer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 9, 2001. The typical Pennsylvania 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)