Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Tuscaloosa leads 13 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
13
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.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $68,811 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $652k less ($228,300 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $965/mo less ($980 vs $1,945)
29% less violent crime than Seattle
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $68,811/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 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Seattle
Median Income
$68,811
$116,068 vs $47,257/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
29% lower
553.4 vs 775.1 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$652k less
$228,300 vs $879,900
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $879,900⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ 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 | 204⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 17.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tuscaloosa leads 13 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 10 and Tuscaloosa wins 13. 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 Seattle to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $228,300 median home), income ($116,068 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 2,060 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.