City Comparison
Bessemer vs Phenix City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
Alabama, USA
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VS
Phenix City scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Bessemer
Phenix City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Bessemer | Phenix City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $0 | $1,174 | -100% |
| Groceries | $0 | $350 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $180 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $360 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $250 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $0 | $2,314 | -100% |
| Cost Index | 90 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Phenix City offers 100% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Bessemer | Phenix City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $48,000 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $50,000 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Bessemer | Phenix City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 66.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Bessemer has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
11,000 minutes (183 hours) per year compared to Phenix City.
Phenix City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Phenix City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Bessemer | Phenix City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | — | 30.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 24.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Phenix City is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Phenix City is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Bessemer has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Bessemer | Phenix City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 0 | 38,282 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 1.00% |
| Median Age | 35.6 | |
| Unemployment | % | 2.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Bessemer
Phenix City
Advantages
The cost of living in Phenix City is significantly lower than the national average, making it an affordable place to reside.
Housing costs are notably lower, with a median home sale price of $227,000 in May 2026, and average rent around $1,174 per month.
The city offers free fixed-route bus services through Phenix City Express, providing accessible public transportation within city limits and to Columbus, GA.
New manufacturing investments, such as Sierra Pacific Industries, are creating hundreds of jobs and contributing to economic growth.
Phenix City provides access to a larger metropolitan area (Columbus, GA) for expanded job opportunities, healthcare, and entertainment.
Drawbacks
Phenix City has a high crime rate, with a total crime rate 100% higher than the national average, impacting overall safety.
The city's walkability score is low (24/100), indicating a high reliance on personal vehicles for daily activities.
Employment experienced a decline of -3.15% from 2023 to 2024, suggesting a challenging job market despite new investments.
The poverty rate in Phenix City is high at 24.5% as of 2024.
Traffic congestion in the Columbus-Phenix City area leads to an average of 26 hours of delay per auto commuter annually.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Bessemer
Alabama, USA
0.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
%
Livability
0
Business
0
Phenix City
#587Alabama, USA
44.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,174
Avg Salary
$48,000
Cost Index
90
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
30.0/100
Walkability
24.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.00%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
65
Business
58
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