Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roswell, GA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Roswell leads 15 of 23 categories
Roswell
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $75,667 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Tuscaloosa
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($228,300 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $639/mo less ($980 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Roswell
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $75,667/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 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Roswell
Median Income
$75,667
$122,924 vs $47,257/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
71% lower
160.1 vs 553.4 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$251k less
$228,300 vs $479,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roswell, GA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $479,400⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,619⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,924 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 45 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 49 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fulton County | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,770 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.8% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roswell's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 15 of 23 categories. Roswell wins 15 and Tuscaloosa wins 8. 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 Roswell to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($479,400 vs $228,300 median home), income ($122,924 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roswell, GA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 191 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.