Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Mateo, CA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 San Mateo leads 15 of 22 categories
San Mateo
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
7
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.
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $101,895 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Tuscaloosa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $1281k less ($228,300 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1991/mo less ($980 vs $2,971)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $101,895/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 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Mateo
Median Income
$101,895
$149,152 vs $47,257/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
56% lower
243.2 vs 553.4 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$1281k less
$228,300 vs $1,508,900
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 72.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,508,900⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,971⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,152 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.2% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Mateo-Foster City | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.6°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,165 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Mateo's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 15 of 22 categories. San Mateo 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 San Mateo to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,508,900 vs $228,300 median home), income ($149,152 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Mateo, CA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,970 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.