Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Tuscaloosa leads 14 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,797 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Households earn $7,479 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 6.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
32% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.8%)
Rent averages $150/mo less ($980 vs $1,130)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Albany
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Albany by $7,479/yr
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Income
$7,479
$54,736 vs $47,257/yr
Albany
Median Home Value
$15k less
$213,400 vs $228,300
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
32% lower
553.4 vs 816.9 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 17.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tuscaloosa leads 14 of 23 categories. Albany wins 9 and Tuscaloosa wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $228,300 median home), income ($54,736 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 990 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.