Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 18 of 22 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
4
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.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Households earn $19,638 more per year on average
Homes cost $60k less ($167,900 vs $228,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $94/mo less ($886 vs $980)
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $19,638/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 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$19,638
$66,895 vs $47,257/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
53% lower
261.5 vs 553.4 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$60k less
$167,900 vs $228,300
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.8% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.0 on the COL index
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 | 90.0 |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $980 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 18.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 18 of 22 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 18 and Tuscaloosa wins 4. 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 Cedar Rapids to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $228,300 median home), income ($66,895 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 644 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.