Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Sacramento leads 12 of 22 categories
Sacramento
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
10
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.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,697 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.3%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $222k less ($228,300 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $612/mo less ($980 vs $1,592)
27% less violent crime than Sacramento
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $31,697/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Median Income
$31,697
$78,954 vs $47,257/yr
Sacramento
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
27% lower
553.4 vs 754.9 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$222k less
$228,300 vs $450,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 12 of 22 categories. Sacramento wins 12 and Tuscaloosa wins 10. 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 Sacramento to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $228,300 median home), income ($78,954 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,924 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.