Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Palm Coast leads 10 of 19 categories
Palm Coast
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Households earn $21,567 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Tuscaloosa
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Rent averages $641/mo less ($980 vs $1,621)
Homes cost $55k less ($228,300 vs $283,300)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Coast
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Palm Coast by $21,567/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 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Median Income
$21,567
$68,824 vs $47,257/yr
Palm Coast
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$55k less
$228,300 vs $283,300
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 87.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 10 of 19 categories. Palm Coast wins 10 and Tuscaloosa wins 9. 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 Palm Coast to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $228,300 median home), income ($68,824 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.