Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Surprise, AZ
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 22 categories
Surprise
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
7
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.
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Households earn $40,499 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Tuscaloosa
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Rent averages $842/mo less ($980 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $124k less ($228,300 vs $352,600)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $40,499/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 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Median Income
$40,499
$87,756 vs $47,257/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
80% lower
109.1 vs 553.4 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 92.2°F
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$124k less
$228,300 vs $352,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Surprise, AZ | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $352,600⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,822⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,756 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 29 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dysart Unified District (4243) | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.9" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 145,591 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 78.4% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Surprise's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 22 categories. Surprise wins 15 and Tuscaloosa wins 7. 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 Surprise to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($352,600 vs $228,300 median home), income ($87,756 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Surprise, AZ and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,434 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.