Best Life Index › States › Alabama › Cities › Tuscaloosa

Alabama city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Tuscaloosa?

What it costs to live in Tuscaloosa, and how it compares with other Alabama cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

15

46th best value in Alabama

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Alabama cities.

Overall livability

15

45th overall in Alabama

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Tuscaloosa is home to about 99,252 people. A typical home runs $194,500 and a household earns around $44,900, a price-to-income ratio of 4.3. Among Alabama's largest cities, it ranks 46th for value and 45th overall.

Tuscaloosa at a glance

Median home price

$194,500

43rd in AL of 47

Median rent

$907/mo

Median household income

$44,900

Home price to income

4.3x

Unemployment

6.5%

36th in AL of 47

School rating

2/10

41st in AL of 47

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in AL of 47

Walk score

11/100

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‹ See all top Alabama cities ranked  ยท  Alabama state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Alabama only. Updated 2026.