Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Tuscaloosa leads 12 of 23 categories
Rockford
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1
Median Household Income
$50,744 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
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.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($114,100 vs $228,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Households earn $3,487 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 6.8%)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
49% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
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
Median income trails Rockford by $3,487/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Median Income
$3,487
$50,744 vs $47,257/yr
Rockford
Median Home Value
$114k less
$114,100 vs $228,300
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.1 on the COL index
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
49% lower
553.4 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.8% vs 9.0% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $980 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tuscaloosa leads 12 of 23 categories. Rockford wins 11 and Tuscaloosa wins 12. 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 Rockford to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $228,300 median home), income ($50,744 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 629 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.