Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tuscaloosa, AL
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 West Jordan leads 13 of 23 categories
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797
West Jordan
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
116,383 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($228,300 vs $412,100)
Rent averages $509/mo less ($980 vs $1,489)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than West Jordan
Cons
Median income trails West Jordan by $51,745/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 4.2%)
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Households earn $51,745 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,100
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Tuscaloosa
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 98.5 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$184k less
$228,300 vs $412,100
West Jordan
Median Income
$51,745
$99,002 vs $47,257/yr
West Jordan
Violent Crime
47% lower
294.2 vs 553.4 per 100k
West Jordan
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tuscaloosa, AL | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.5 |
| Median Home Value | $228,300 ✓ Lower | $412,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,257 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.1% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tuscaloosa City | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,797 | 116,383 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tuscaloosa's cost of living index is 90.0 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Jordan leads 13 of 23 categories. Tuscaloosa wins 10 and West Jordan wins 13. 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 Tuscaloosa to West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($228,300 vs $412,100 median home), income ($47,257 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tuscaloosa, AL and West Jordan, UT are about 1,439 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.