Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Austin leads 15 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
8
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $39,299 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 56°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $233k less ($228,300 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $569/mo less ($980 vs $1,549)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $39,299/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 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$39,299
$86,556 vs $47,257/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
16% lower
466.9 vs 553.4 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 92.2°F
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$233k less
$228,300 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin'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, Austin leads 15 of 23 categories. Austin wins 15 and Tuscaloosa wins 8. 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 Austin to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $228,300 median home), income ($86,556 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 634 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.