Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Elk Grove leads 13 of 21 categories
Elk Grove
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
8
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.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $68,607 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Tuscaloosa
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $332k less ($228,300 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $1096/mo less ($980 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $68,607/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
Elk Grove
Median Income
$68,607
$115,864 vs $47,257/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
66% lower
189.9 vs 553.4 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$332k less
$228,300 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 21 categories. Elk Grove wins 13 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 Elk Grove to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $228,300 median home), income ($115,864 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,919 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.