Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Antioch, CA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Tuscaloosa leads 14 of 22 categories
Antioch
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,709 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
115,016 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Antioch, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,452 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $570,900
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Tuscaloosa
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $343k less ($228,300 vs $570,900)
Rent averages $1170/mo less ($980 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 26 min shorter each way
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Antioch
9% less violent crime than Antioch
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Antioch by $43,452/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Antioch
Median Income
$43,452
$90,709 vs $47,257/yr
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
9% lower
553.4 vs 606.8 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$343k less
$228,300 vs $570,900
Tuscaloosa
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Antioch, CA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $570,900⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,709 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 44.9 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 152⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Antioch Unified | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.7°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.6" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,016 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.5% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Antioch's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tuscaloosa leads 14 of 22 categories. Antioch wins 8 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 Antioch to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($570,900 vs $228,300 median home), income ($90,709 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Antioch, CA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,942 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.