Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tuscaloosa, AL
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster 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
Westminster
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $239k less ($228,300 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $752/mo less ($980 vs $1,732)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $43,394/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 4.1%)
Westminster, CO
Pros
Households earn $43,394 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Tuscaloosa
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$239k less
$228,300 vs $467,200
Westminster
Median Income
$43,394
$90,651 vs $47,257/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
45% lower
303.6 vs 553.4 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tuscaloosa, AL | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $228,300 ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,257 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.1% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tuscaloosa City | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,797 | 115,502 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tuscaloosa's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 13 of 23 categories. Tuscaloosa wins 10 and Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($228,300 vs $467,200 median home), income ($47,257 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tuscaloosa, AL and Westminster, CO are about 1,073 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.