Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tuscaloosa, AL
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 11 of 21 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
Worcester
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Rent averages $332/mo less ($980 vs $1,312)
Homes cost $77k less ($228,300 vs $305,600)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Worcester by $15,754/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
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Households earn $15,754 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Tuscaloosa
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$77k less
$228,300 vs $305,600
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$15,754
$63,011 vs $47,257/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 553.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tuscaloosa, AL | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $228,300 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,257 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.1% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tuscaloosa City | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,797 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tuscaloosa's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Worcester leads 11 of 21 categories. Tuscaloosa wins 10 and Worcester 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($228,300 vs $305,600 median home), income ($47,257 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tuscaloosa, AL and Worcester, MA are about 1,059 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.