Moving to Tuscaloosa
What you need to know before relocating to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Tuscaloosa a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Tuscaloosa compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($958/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($229,900) are well below the us median; low unemployment rate (2.6%) signals a strong job market.
Tuscaloosa at a Glance
Cost of Living in Tuscaloosa
The median rent in Tuscaloosa is $958/month, while the median home value is $229,900. With a median household income of $58,193, residents spend roughly 20% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Tuscaloosa metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Tuscaloosa has a median household income of $58,193, which is 22% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.6%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Tuscaloosa
The violent crime rate in Tuscaloosa is 404 per 100,000 residents, which is 6% above the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 1699 per 100,000 residents.
Education in Alabama
Alabama has a high school graduation rate of 89% and per-pupil spending of $13,461/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.
30% of Alabama adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
Alabama has 224 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 9.2% uninsured rate, and 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Alabama is 74.8 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Tuscaloosa
+Pros
- ✓Rent ($958/mo) is below the national average
- ✓Home prices ($229,900) are well below the US median
- ✓Low unemployment rate (2.6%) signals a strong job market
-Cons
- ✗Median household income ($58,193) trails the national median
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (112847 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tuscaloosa a good place to live?⌄
Tuscaloosa, Alabama has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($958/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($229,900) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Tuscaloosa?⌄
The median rent in Tuscaloosa is $958/month and the median home value is $229,900. The median household income is $58,193. Overall the metro is considered affordable.
Is Tuscaloosa safe?⌄
Tuscaloosa has a violent crime rate of 404 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Tuscaloosa?⌄
Tuscaloosa has an unemployment rate of 2.6%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $58,193.