Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Tuscaloosa leads 16 of 22 categories
Compton
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,797 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,471 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Tuscaloosa
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($228,300 vs $489,400)
56% less violent crime than Compton
Rent averages $484/mo less ($980 vs $1,464)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Compton by $22,471/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
Compton
Median Income
$22,471
$69,728 vs $47,257/yr
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
56% lower
553.4 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$261k less
$228,300 vs $489,400
Tuscaloosa
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 5.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tuscaloosa leads 16 of 22 categories. Compton wins 6 and Tuscaloosa wins 16. 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 Compton to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $228,300 median home), income ($69,728 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,761 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.