Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Laredo leads 16 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
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.
Laredo, TX
Pros
34% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Homes cost $64k less ($164,400 vs $228,300)
Households earn $13,671 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 100°F
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Laredo by $13,671/yr
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$13,671
$60,928 vs $47,257/yr
Laredo
Violent Crime
34% lower
365.8 vs 553.4 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$64k less
$164,400 vs $228,300
Laredo
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.8% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 92.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 90.0 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $980 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 5.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ 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 (82) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 29.3 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 16 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 16 and Tuscaloosa wins 7. 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 Laredo to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $228,300 median home), income ($60,928 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 813 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.