Bessemer City, NC vs Jefferson, NC

Jefferson is moderately more affordable than Bessemer City, with a 11.2% lower cost of living index. Bessemer City scores 77 compared to 69 for Jefferson, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Bessemer City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bessemer City is $942/month compared to $688/month in Jefferson — a 37% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Jefferson has cheaper rent, Bessemer City actually has lower median home values ($173,000 vs $186,300).

Median household income in Bessemer City is $48,784 compared to $35,938 in Jefferson (+35.7%). While Bessemer City 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 City spend roughly 23.2% of their income on rent, more than the 23% in Jefferson.