Performance
Score Breakdown
Tuscaloosa
Decatur
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Decatur is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
0% higher compared to Tuscaloosa.
| Metric | Tuscaloosa | Decatur | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,450 | $0 | 0% |
| Groceries | $450 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $250 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $121 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,391 | $0 | 0% |
| Cost Index | 87 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Decatur offers 4% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Tuscaloosa | Decatur |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $54,163 | $56,363 |
| Salary Needed | $39,720 | $0 |
| Household Income | $51,464 | $68,116 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Tuscaloosa | Decatur |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 70.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Tuscaloosa has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Decatur.
Tuscaloosa scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Tuscaloosa leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Tuscaloosa | Decatur |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 20 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 20.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Walkability | 33.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | ||
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Tuscaloosa is the larger city
— approximately 2x the population of Decatur.
From a growth perspective, Tuscaloosa is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Decatur has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Tuscaloosa | Decatur |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 116,477 | 57,361 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.89% | 1.30% |
| Median Age | 27.2 | 40.5 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 3.00% |
| GDP | $— | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Tuscaloosa
Advantages
The cost of living in Tuscaloosa is 11% to 13.1% lower than the national average, with housing expenses being 26% cheaper.
Tuscaloosa's crime rates, including homicides and property crimes, saw significant drops in 2025 compared to 2024.
The average commute time in Tuscaloosa is 19.6 minutes, which is shorter than the U.S. average.
The city has a stable and growing job market, with employment increasing by 1.64% from 2023 to 2024.
Tuscaloosa was ranked among the nation's top 25 cities for small business growth from May 2024 to May 2025.
Drawbacks
Tuscaloosa's violent crime rate of 553.4 per 100,000 residents is higher than the national average of 359.1.
The city has a relatively low walkability score of 33, indicating high car dependency for most errands.
Utility prices in Tuscaloosa are approximately 11% to 13.2% higher than the national average.
A significant portion of Tuscaloosa families, 25.13%, live in poverty.
The city's transit score is not widely reported and appears to be low, suggesting limited public transportation options.
Decatur
Advantages
The cost of living in Decatur is notably lower than the national average, including housing, utilities, and transportation.
Decatur boasts a higher homeownership rate (74.6% in 2024) compared to the national average.
The median property value in Decatur increased by 9.46% between 2023 and 2024.
The average commute time of 26 minutes is shorter than the national average.
Decatur's job market is predicted to have a positive future growth of 30.5% over the next ten years.
Drawbacks
The overall crime rate in Decatur is slightly higher than the average U.S. city, with a C- grade for safety.
Amenities in Decatur received a concerning score of 'F' in a livability assessment.
The city exhibits a medium to high car dependency due to limited public transit options and walkability.
The average salary in Decatur ($56,363 in June 2026) is lower than the national average.
Humidity levels can be uncomfortably high during the summer months from June to August.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Tuscaloosa
#69Alabama, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$54,163
Cost Index
87
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
20.0/10
Walkability
33.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.89%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
65
Business
70
Decatur
#23Alabama, USA
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$56,363
Cost Index
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.30%
Unemployment
3.00%
Livability
73
Business
0
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