Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Tuscaloosa leads 15 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
15
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.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Households earn $5,477 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Tuscaloosa
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.8%)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($228,300 vs $328,100)
26% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.8%)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
Cons
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
Median income trails Fall River by $5,477/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Median Income
$5,477
$52,734 vs $47,257/yr
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
26% lower
553.4 vs 742.9 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$100k less
$228,300 vs $328,100
Tuscaloosa
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.8% vs 8.4% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tuscaloosa leads 15 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 8 and Tuscaloosa wins 15. 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 Fall River to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $228,300 median home), income ($52,734 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,072 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.