Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Tuscaloosa, AL

    Is Tuscaloosa a good place to live?

    Watch Tuscaloosa

    Tuscaloosa ranks #19 of 24 Alabama cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (35/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.8% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $236,600
    +3.6% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,005
    per month
    Household income
    $48,536
    median
    Unemployment
    7.0%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Tuscaloosa

    The median home value in Tuscaloosa is $236,600 and median rent is $1,005 a month, against a median household income of $48,536. Homes cost about 4.9× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Tuscaloosa crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Alabama the 2025 rate was 353 violent and 1,501 property crimes per 100,000 people — #23 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Tuscaloosa, AL

    Tuscaloosa has about 107,699 residents, 7.0% unemployment and 21% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Tuscaloosa with

    Tuscaloosa vs HuntsvilleTuscaloosa vs BirminghamTuscaloosa vs MontgomeryTuscaloosa vs MobileTuscaloosa vs HooverTuscaloosa vs AuburnTuscaloosa vs DothanTuscaloosa vs Madison

    More: Where to move in Alabama · Best counties in Alabama

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report