Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Hillsboro leads 12 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
11
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.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $51,634 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($228,300 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $817/mo less ($980 vs $1,797)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $51,634/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 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$51,634
$98,891 vs $47,257/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
43% lower
317.7 vs 553.4 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$224k less
$228,300 vs $452,300
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 12 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 12 and Tuscaloosa wins 11. 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 Hillsboro to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $228,300 median home), income ($98,891 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 2,052 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.