Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. George, UT
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 St. George leads 14 of 23 categories
St. George
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
9
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.
St. George, UT
Pros
62% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Households earn $22,076 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($228,300 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $355/mo less ($980 vs $1,335)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 102°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than St. George
Cons
Median income trails St. George by $22,076/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 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
St. George
Median Income
$22,076
$69,333 vs $47,257/yr
St. George
Violent Crime
62% lower
210.0 vs 553.4 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 92.2°F
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$187k less
$228,300 vs $415,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. George, UT | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $415,200⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,335⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,333 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter | 18.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.1:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.6% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washington District | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.0°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.3" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,174 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.7% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. George's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 14 of 23 categories. St. George wins 14 and Tuscaloosa wins 9. 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 St. George to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,200 vs $228,300 median home), income ($69,333 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. George, UT and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,490 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.