Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
10
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.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $40,501 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Rent averages $396/mo less ($980 vs $1,376)
Homes cost $86k less ($228,300 vs $314,400)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Suffolk
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $40,501/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Median Income
$40,501
$87,758 vs $47,257/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
33% lower
371.0 vs 553.4 per 100k
Suffolk
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$86k less
$228,300 vs $314,400
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories. Suffolk wins 13 and Tuscaloosa wins 10. 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 Suffolk to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $228,300 median home), income ($87,758 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.