Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Tuscaloosa leads 16 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257 ✓ Higher
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.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Tuscaloosa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $84k less ($228,300 vs $312,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (6.8%)
Rent averages $293/mo less ($980 vs $1,273)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
5% less violent crime than Newark
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Income
$797
$47,257 vs $46,460/yr
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
5% lower
553.4 vs 581.2 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$84k less
$228,300 vs $312,300
Tuscaloosa
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
6.8% vs 10.7% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $47,257 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 5.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tuscaloosa leads 16 of 23 categories. Newark wins 7 and Tuscaloosa wins 16. 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 Newark to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $228,300 median home), income ($46,460 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 899 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.