Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 El Paso leads 16 of 22 categories
El Paso
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2
Median Household Income
$55,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
6
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
50% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Homes cost $69k less ($159,300 vs $228,300)
Households earn $8,453 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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 El Paso by $8,453/yr
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Median Income
$8,453
$55,710 vs $47,257/yr
El Paso
Violent Crime
50% lower
278.4 vs 553.4 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$69k less
$159,300 vs $228,300
El Paso
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 92.2°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.2 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $980 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, El Paso leads 16 of 22 categories. El Paso wins 16 and Tuscaloosa wins 6. 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 El Paso to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $228,300 median home), income ($55,710 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,104 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.