Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Shreveport, LA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories
Shreveport
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$47,257 ✓ Higher
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.
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($168,900 vs $228,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Tuscaloosa
Cons
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.8%)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
55% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.8%)
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
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Shreveport
Key Differences at a Glance
Shreveport
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$59k less
$168,900 vs $228,300
Tuscaloosa
Median Income
$1,290
$47,257 vs $45,967/yr
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
55% lower
553.4 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Shreveport, LA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper | 90.0 |
| Median Home Value | $168,900 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $945 ✓ Lower | $980 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,967 | $47,257 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 5.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 270⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 323⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Caddo Parish | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,183 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.1% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Shreveport's cost of living index is 87.1 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories. Shreveport wins 12 and Tuscaloosa wins 11. 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 Shreveport to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,900 vs $228,300 median home), income ($45,967 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Shreveport, LA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.