Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tuscaloosa, AL
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 14 of 22 categories
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Yuma
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Yuma by $12,055/yr
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yuma, AZ
Pros
23% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Households earn $12,055 more per year on average
Homes cost $42k less ($186,500 vs $228,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tuscaloosa
Key Differences at a Glance
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Median Income
$12,055
$59,312 vs $47,257/yr
Yuma
Violent Crime
23% lower
423.6 vs 553.4 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$42k less
$186,500 vs $228,300
Yuma
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 92.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tuscaloosa, AL | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $228,300 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,028 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,257 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.1% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tuscaloosa City | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,797 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 32.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tuscaloosa's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 22 categories. Tuscaloosa wins 8 and Yuma 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 Tuscaloosa to Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($228,300 vs $186,500 median home), income ($47,257 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tuscaloosa, AL and Yuma, AZ are about 1,563 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.