Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Alexandria leads 14 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $65,922 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Tuscaloosa
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $427k less ($228,300 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $1003/mo less ($980 vs $1,983)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $65,922/yr
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$65,922
$113,179 vs $47,257/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
60% lower
219.1 vs 553.4 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$427k less
$228,300 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 14 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 14 and Tuscaloosa wins 9. 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 Alexandria to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $228,300 median home), income ($113,179 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 699 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.