Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Tuscaloosa leads 12 of 22 categories
East Los Angeles
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222 ✓ 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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,862 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Tuscaloosa
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $354k less ($228,300 vs $582,400)
Rent averages $389/mo less ($980 vs $1,369)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails East Los Angeles by $16,862/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
East Los Angeles
Median Income
$16,862
$64,119 vs $47,257/yr
East Los Angeles
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$354k less
$228,300 vs $582,400
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 33.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles'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 12 of 22 categories. East Los Angeles wins 10 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 East Los Angeles to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $228,300 median home), income ($64,119 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,757 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.