Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Norman leads 18 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
53% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Households earn $15,592 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 50°F
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norman by $15,592/yr
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Median Income
$15,592
$62,849 vs $47,257/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
53% lower
260.2 vs 553.4 per 100k
Norman
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 31.0 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 18 of 23 categories. Norman wins 18 and Tuscaloosa wins 5. 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 Norman to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $228,300 median home), income ($62,849 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.