Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 High Point leads 15 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$58,582 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,120 ✓ 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.
High Point, NC
Pros
18% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Households earn $11,325 more per year on average
Homes cost $32k less ($196,500 vs $228,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than High Point
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails High Point by $11,325/yr
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Median Income
$11,325
$58,582 vs $47,257/yr
High Point
Violent Crime
18% lower
454.8 vs 553.4 per 100k
High Point
Median Home Value
$32k less
$196,500 vs $228,300
High Point
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, High Point leads 15 of 23 categories. High Point wins 15 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 High Point to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $228,300 median home), income ($58,582 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.