Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tuscaloosa, AL
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $549k less ($228,300 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $997/mo less ($980 vs $1,977)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.8%)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $33,014/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
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,014 more per year on average
21% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Tuscaloosa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$549k less
$228,300 vs $777,100
Tuscaloosa
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$33,014
$80,271 vs $47,257/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
21% lower
436.2 vs 553.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tuscaloosa, AL | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $228,300 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,257 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.1% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tuscaloosa City | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,797 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tuscaloosa's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Tuscaloosa wins 11 and Westminster wins 11. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($228,300 vs $777,100 median home), income ($47,257 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tuscaloosa, AL and Westminster, CA are about 1,749 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.