Living in Tuscaloosa, AL
Mid-size city in Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a mid-size city in Alabama, home to about 108,000 people, with 189,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Tuscaloosa a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $240k and rents for $1,490 a month
- Low taxes: about $1,147 state income tax per resident, 0.47% property tax
- Low natural disaster risk: 11 federally declared disasters since 2000
👎 Cons
- Few dog parks: 1 within 9 mi
- Smaller job market: about 189,000 people live within 31 mi
- Few top-rated hospitals: no 4–5★ hospital within 31 mi
- Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Tuscaloosa ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Tuscaloosa: common questions
What is the cost of living in Tuscaloosa?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $240k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,490 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 88, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Tuscaloosa?
Alabama collects about $1,147 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.47% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Tuscaloosa safe?
Tuscaloosa isn't in the FBI's 2019 city crime table, so Best Life Fit Me counts its safety as average.
What is the weather like in Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa has mild winters: winter days average around 58°F and summer days around 91°F.
Does Tuscaloosa get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes: 11 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.94 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Tuscaloosa?
The nearest major airport is BHM, about 50 mi away.
How Tuscaloosa scores
Each bar compares Tuscaloosa with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Tuscaloosa right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.