Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Peoria leads 15 of 22 categories
Peoria
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
7
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.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $39,502 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Tuscaloosa
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($228,300 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $658/mo less ($980 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 105°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $39,502/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 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Median Income
$39,502
$86,759 vs $47,257/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
54% lower
254.7 vs 553.4 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.8% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 92.2°F
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$155k less
$228,300 vs $383,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 15 of 22 categories. Peoria wins 15 and Tuscaloosa wins 7. 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 Peoria to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $228,300 median home), income ($86,759 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,425 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.