Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
9
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.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Households earn $31,720 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Tuscaloosa
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($228,300 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $596/mo less ($980 vs $1,576)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $31,720/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
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Median Income
$31,720
$78,977 vs $47,257/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
51% lower
272.7 vs 553.4 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$269k less
$228,300 vs $497,400
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 30.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 17.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 14 and Tuscaloosa wins 9. 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 Fort Collins to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $228,300 median home), income ($78,977 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,090 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.