Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Arvada leads 16 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
7
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $58,757 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Tuscaloosa
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $325k less ($228,300 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $726/mo less ($980 vs $1,706)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $58,757/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 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$58,757
$106,014 vs $47,257/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
48% lower
285.6 vs 553.4 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$325k less
$228,300 vs $553,000
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 16 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 16 and Tuscaloosa wins 7. 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 Arvada to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $228,300 median home), income ($106,014 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,077 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.