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Town

Tuscaloosa

#2 in Best Places to Live in Tuscaloosa County
  • B+
    Overall Grade
  • Town in Alabama
  • 241 reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    B
  2. Crime & Safety
    C
  3. Housing
    C+
  4. Nightlife
    A-
  5. Good for Families
    B
  6. Diversity
    A
  7. Jobs
    B-
  8. Weather
    B
  9. Cost of Living
    B
  10. Health & Fitness
    B-
  11. Outdoor Activities
    B
  12. Commute
    A-
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Population
96,352

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$170,800
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$791
National
$949
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    52%
  • Own
    48%
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Tuscaloosa Rankings

Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
C
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    240
    283
  • Murder
    14
    6
  • Rape
    46
    41
  • Robbery
    172
    136
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    795
    500
  • Theft
    2,710
    2,043
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    230
    284
Home Security Options for Tuscaloosa
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  • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
  • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

Residents

Diversity
A
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$40,542
National
$55,322
Children
15%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    15%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    20%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    26%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    27%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    11%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges
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Tuscaloosa Reviews

241 reviews
All Categories
I moved to Tuscaloosa from Michigan and have loved every minute of my time down here. The atmosphere is great, especially with having a championship football team in town to cheer on. There's the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater to see several concerts with "big names" throughout the year, and even more phenomenal restaurants to dine at. I love the taste of southern BBQ and Tuscaloosa has so many great options to choose from. You can even have dinner on a patio while looking out over the sunset on Black Warrior River. The shopping in town is great, and the city is constantly growing. I swear every time I turn around I see something new being built, whether it's a restaurant, new building on campus, or a student housing complex!
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Tuscaloosa is a good city to live in and raise a family. The crime rates are not bad. The school systems are good in certain areas, just do your research. Job availability is definitely a plus. Secondary education is available with multiple local colleges/universities to choose from. Nightlife in Downtown Tuscaloosa always has something to offer, regardless of age. Tuscaloosa is also a center point and within 4 hours away traveling distance to popular vacation states (Georgia, New Orleans, Tennessee, Florida)
Tuscaloosa is the 5th largest city in the state of Alabama. Its claim to fame is the University of Alabama and their exceptional athletic programs. Most residents are either employees of the university, employees of the government, or students. Despite its growth in recent years, there's not a great deal of social or cultural activity available. The downtown area (right next to campus) is relatively small compared to other cities. Thursday through Saturday, people will congregate there for the food, bars, theatres, and museums. Politically, the city is on the red side of purple (magenta?) but there are plenty of opportunities to get involved no matter your affiliation.