Bessemer, AL vs Pleasant Grove, AL
Bessemer is moderately more affordable than Pleasant Grove, with a 14.4% lower cost of living index. Bessemer scores 71 compared to 83 for Pleasant Grove, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Pleasant Grove can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.
On the housing front, median rent in Bessemer is $922/month compared to $1,153/month in Pleasant Grove — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bessemer is more affordable at $129,800 median vs $189,100.
Median household income in Bessemer is $37,844 compared to $68,344 in Pleasant Grove (-44.6%). While Pleasant Grove is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bessemer spend roughly 29.2% of their income on rent, more than the 20.2% in Pleasant Grove.
Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (64.4°F vs 63.9°F). Pleasant Grove receives more rainfall at 56.6" per year compared to 56.2" in Bessemer.
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Housing
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Rent by Bedroom Size
HUD Fair Market Rent (FY 2026) — metro area average
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Climate
NOAA 30-year normals (1991-2020)