Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Toledo, OH
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Tuscaloosa leads 14 of 23 categories
Toledo
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($98,800 vs $228,300)
Rent averages $126/mo less ($854 vs $980)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.8%)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
47% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.8%)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 34°F
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Toledo
Median Home Value
$130k less
$98,800 vs $228,300
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.4 on the COL index
Tuscaloosa
Median Income
$1,852
$47,257 vs $45,405/yr
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
47% lower
553.4 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Toledo, OH | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.4 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $98,800 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $854 ✓ Lower | $980 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,405 | $47,257 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 5.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 216⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 274⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.2% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Toledo City | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 269,962 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Toledo's cost of living index is 90.4 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tuscaloosa leads 14 of 23 categories. Toledo wins 9 and Tuscaloosa wins 14. 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 Toledo to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($98,800 vs $228,300 median home), income ($45,405 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Toledo, OH and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 621 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.