Tuscaloosa, AL Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Tuscaloosa, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Tuscaloosa →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Population in Tuscaloosa, Alabama runs approximately 105,797. Median household income sits at $47,257, landing below the benchmark median we track across cities (-34%).
For renters and buyers alike, Tuscaloosa offers a median home value of $228,300 (below the tracked median, -30%) and median rent of $980 monthly. Local property taxes and current mortgage rates will shape the real cost of buying.
Tuscaloosa's home-price-to-income ratio of about 4.8× is fairly typical — housing costs track reasonably in line with local pay. Prices in the area have gained 3.27% year over year, a moderate pace that suggests a stable market around Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa carries a Relatively Moderate hazard rating from FEMA, on the lower end of what we track.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $980/mo in Tuscaloosa would take 24.9% of your income.
$201/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($228,300) would take 30.9% of your income toward principal & interest.
$116/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Tuscaloosa
Median home value is $228,300 and median gross rent is $980/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Tuscaloosa rose 3.27% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,169/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Tuscaloosa's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Tuscaloosa reported a violent crime rate of 479.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Tuscaloosa
Planning a move to Tuscaloosa? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Tuscaloosa, AL?
- In Tuscaloosa, the median home value is $228,300 and median rent is $980 per month, against a median household income of $47,257. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tuscaloosa?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Tuscaloosa's median rent of $980/month takes an income of roughly $39,200 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Tuscaloosa.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Tuscaloosa?
- In Tuscaloosa, comfortably renting the median unit ($980/month) takes about $39,200 in annual income, while buying the median home ($228,300) takes roughly $52,234 a year in principal and interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates).
- Is Tuscaloosa safe?
- Per FBI Crime Data Explorer figures, Tuscaloosa's violent crime rate was 479.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025.
See the full salary breakdown for Tuscaloosa →
Cities with a similar cost of living
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