Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Goodyear leads 14 of 22 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Households earn $50,050 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Tuscaloosa
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Rent averages $731/mo less ($980 vs $1,711)
Homes cost $168k less ($228,300 vs $396,100)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Goodyear
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $50,050/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 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Median Income
$50,050
$97,307 vs $47,257/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
67% lower
182.2 vs 553.4 per 100k
Goodyear
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.8% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 92.2°F
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$168k less
$228,300 vs $396,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 14 of 22 categories. Goodyear wins 14 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 Goodyear to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $228,300 median home), income ($97,307 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,432 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.