Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Tuscaloosa leads 16 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($111,400 vs $228,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 6.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
5% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Median Home Value
$117k less
$111,400 vs $228,300
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Income
$3,101
$47,257 vs $44,156/yr
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
5% lower
553.4 vs 582.3 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.8% vs 8.5% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $47,257 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tuscaloosa leads 16 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 7 and Tuscaloosa wins 16. 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 Rochester to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $228,300 median home), income ($44,156 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 871 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.