Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Tuscaloosa leads 12 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
12
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $41,955 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $457k less ($228,300 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $1001/mo less ($980 vs $1,981)
12% less violent crime than Boston
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $41,955/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
Boston
Median Income
$41,955
$89,212 vs $47,257/yr
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
12% lower
553.4 vs 627.9 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$457k less
$228,300 vs $684,900
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 17.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tuscaloosa leads 12 of 23 categories. Boston wins 11 and Tuscaloosa wins 12. 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 Boston to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $228,300 median home), income ($89,212 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,096 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.