Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$48,309 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $44k less ($184,200 vs $228,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
25% less violent crime than Knoxville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Knoxville
Cons
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 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Median Income
$1,052
$48,309 vs $47,257/yr
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$44k less
$184,200 vs $228,300
Knoxville
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
25% lower
553.4 vs 740.3 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 12 and Tuscaloosa wins 10. 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 Knoxville to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $228,300 median home), income ($48,309 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 278 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.