Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Edinburg leads 15 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
51% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Homes cost $69k less ($159,600 vs $228,300)
Households earn $6,882 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Edinburg by $6,882/yr
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Income
$6,882
$54,139 vs $47,257/yr
Edinburg
Violent Crime
51% lower
269.6 vs 553.4 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$69k less
$159,600 vs $228,300
Edinburg
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 92.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 90.0 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $980 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 15 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 15 and Tuscaloosa wins 8. 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 Edinburg to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $228,300 median home), income ($54,139 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 796 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.