Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 16 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
114,237 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
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.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
Households earn $35,290 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Homes cost $18k less ($210,800 vs $228,300)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Rent averages $203/mo less ($980 vs $1,183)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 49°F
Cons
Median income trails Broken Arrow by $35,290/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 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Median Income
$35,290
$82,547 vs $47,257/yr
Broken Arrow
Violent Crime
60% lower
223.1 vs 553.4 per 100k
Broken Arrow
Median Home Value
$18k less
$210,800 vs $228,300
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 90.0 |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 16 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow 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 Broken Arrow to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $228,300 median home), income ($82,547 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 507 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.