Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paradise, NV
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Paradise leads 12 of 23 categories
Paradise
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,224 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
189,733 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
11
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.
Paradise, NV
Pros
83% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $7,967 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,800
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Tuscaloosa
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 6.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($228,300 vs $333,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.8%)
Rent averages $212/mo less ($980 vs $1,192)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Paradise
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Paradise by $7,967/yr
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Paradise
Median Income
$7,967
$55,224 vs $47,257/yr
Paradise
Violent Crime
83% lower
94.1 vs 553.4 per 100k
Paradise
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 92.2°F
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.1 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$106k less
$228,300 vs $333,800
Tuscaloosa
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.8% vs 8.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paradise, NV | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.1⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $333,800⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,192 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,224 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 25 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.7% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 4.2" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,733 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 38.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paradise's cost of living index is 100.1 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Paradise leads 12 of 23 categories. Paradise wins 12 and Tuscaloosa wins 11. 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 Paradise to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($333,800 vs $228,300 median home), income ($55,224 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paradise, NV and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,576 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.