Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 22 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $48,313 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Tuscaloosa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $369k less ($228,300 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1190/mo less ($980 vs $2,170)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $48,313/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 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$48,313
$95,570 vs $47,257/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
69% lower
171.0 vs 553.4 per 100k
Boca Raton
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$369k less
$228,300 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 58.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 17.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 22 categories. Boca Raton wins 14 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 Boca Raton to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $228,300 median home), income ($95,570 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 650 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.