Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Tuscaloosa leads 12 of 23 categories
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0
Median Household Income
$63,114 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
12
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.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Households earn $15,857 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Homes cost $24k less ($204,800 vs $228,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
22% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 42°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cons
Median income trails Louisville/Jefferson County metro government by $15,857/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 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Income
$15,857
$63,114 vs $47,257/yr
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$24k less
$204,800 vs $228,300
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 94.0 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
22% lower
553.4 vs 707.4 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.0 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $204,800 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,114 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.4°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 15.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 629,176 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.4% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's cost of living index is 94.0 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tuscaloosa leads 12 of 23 categories. Louisville/Jefferson County metro government wins 11 and Tuscaloosa wins 12. 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($204,800 vs $228,300 median home), income ($63,114 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 357 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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