Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 15 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025 ✓ 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.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Households earn $20,617 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 50°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntsville
Cons
Median income trails Huntsville by $20,617/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
Huntsville
Median Income
$20,617
$67,874 vs $47,257/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
13% lower
483.2 vs 553.4 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 15 of 23 categories. Huntsville 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 Huntsville to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $228,300 median home), income ($67,874 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 121 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.