Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ 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.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($141,900 vs $228,300)
Households earn $6,909 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
7% less violent crime than Montgomery
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Montgomery by $6,909/yr
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Median Income
$6,909
$54,166 vs $47,257/yr
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$86k less
$141,900 vs $228,300
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
7% lower
553.4 vs 594.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 13 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 Montgomery to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $228,300 median home), income ($54,166 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 95 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.