Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 College Station leads 15 of 22 categories
College Station
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7
Median Household Income
$52,397 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
7
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.
College Station, TX
Pros
69% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,140 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($228,300 vs $305,800)
Rent averages $149/mo less ($980 vs $1,129)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
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 4.7%)
Median income trails College Station by $5,140/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Median Income
$5,140
$52,397 vs $47,257/yr
College Station
Violent Crime
69% lower
170.5 vs 553.4 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 92.2°F
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 90.7 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$78k less
$228,300 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 18.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 28.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, College Station leads 15 of 22 categories. College Station wins 15 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 College Station to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $228,300 median home), income ($52,397 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 546 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.