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Tuscaloosa, AL

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Tuscaloosa, AL

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Demographics

DiverseSimpson's Diversity Index: 59
Population107,699
Foreign Born3.0%
Population Density1,710people per mi²
Median Age28.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

85/100

15% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $16k$30k
Comfortable $46k$68k
Luxury $88k+$136k+
Elite (Top 5%) $141k+$219k+
Affordability Ratio

72%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean88%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
10
Negative
7

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

0.7mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

1.6mi

Airport

A2 Global Shipping

2mi

Post Office

USPS — Tuscaloosa, AL

0.6mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf4Nearest 3.8 mi
Camping20Nearest 2.1 mi
Marina8Nearest 6.3 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range3Nearest 2 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$49k+2.7%
35% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$218k
67% below US avg
College Educated
38.1%
9% above US avg
WFH
7.6%
47% below US avg
Homeownership
45.1%
31% below US avg
Median Home
$237k
16% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
D+
Elevated

Higher crime rates than 65% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
28.4
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+123.3%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+120.3%
Homicide
0.13 / 1k Residents52% above state avg
Robbery
0.56 / 1k Residents85% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
3.83 / 1k Residents37% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr+126.2%
Burglary
2.49 / 1k Residents16% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
19.43 / 1k Residents79% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.76 / 1k Residents10% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+13Leans Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%200020042008

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B-
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Weak9.8% of income
Property Rights
D
WeakIJ Grade D
Firearm Rights
A-
GreatFPC Grade A-
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (45% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
F
ProhibitedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season273 days342 frost-free
Annual Rainfall58.7"
Elevation240 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B-
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A-
Good909 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,710/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A
Good2 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 736 mi · coast 175 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$83.1M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T19:11:40.000Z

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