Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Fort Worth leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ 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 Worth, TX
Pros
Households earn $25,469 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Tuscaloosa
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Rent averages $333/mo less ($980 vs $1,313)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Homes cost $22k less ($228,300 vs $250,300)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Fort Worth by $25,469/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 Worth
Median Income
$25,469
$72,726 vs $47,257/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
17% lower
458.4 vs 553.4 per 100k
Fort Worth
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 92.2°F
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$22k less
$228,300 vs $250,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 33.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Worth 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 Worth to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $228,300 median home), income ($72,726 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.