Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spring Hill, FL
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Spring Hill leads 11 of 19 categories
Spring Hill
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,588 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
116,882 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Spring Hill, FL
Pros
Households earn $14,331 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 56°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Tuscaloosa
Longer commutes — 29.0 min average each way
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Rent averages $243/mo less ($980 vs $1,223)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Spring Hill
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Spring Hill by $14,331/yr
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Spring Hill
Median Income
$14,331
$61,588 vs $47,257/yr
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spring Hill, FL | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $221,500 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,588 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.0 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HERNANDO | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.5" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,882 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 22.8% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spring Hill's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Spring Hill leads 11 of 19 categories. Spring Hill wins 11 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 Spring Hill to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($221,500 vs $228,300 median home), income ($61,588 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spring Hill, FL and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.