Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Pasadena leads 13 of 22 categories
Pasadena
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
9
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.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,561 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Tuscaloosa
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $753k less ($228,300 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1120/mo less ($980 vs $2,100)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $50,561/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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$50,561
$97,818 vs $47,257/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
13% lower
480.4 vs 553.4 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$753k less
$228,300 vs $981,600
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 17.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 22 categories. Pasadena wins 13 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 Pasadena to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $228,300 median home), income ($97,818 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,754 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.