Jefferson County vs Tuscaloosa County
Jefferson County, Alabama versus Tuscaloosa County, Alabama: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Jefferson County and Tuscaloosa County score about the same overall (42 vs 45 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Jefferson County | Tuscaloosa County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $64k | $62k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $48k |
| Home Value | $209k | $219k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $974 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.61% | 0.33% |
| Income Tax | 5.59% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 9.29% | 9.29% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.67% | 9.24% |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | 5.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 45°F | 45°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 81°F | 82°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1 in | 57.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3 in | 0.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 261 days | 264 days |
| Summer Humidity | 71°F | 71°F |
| Comfortable Days | 84 days | 75 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 97.6 | 90.8 |
| Air Quality | 61 AQI | 42 AQI |
| School Quality | 49.9 | 41.4 |
| Violent Crime | 2021/100k | 1948/100k |
| Property Crime | 2681/100k | 1849/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 672,265 | 231,558 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 32.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.56 | 0.51 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.91 | 0.93 |
| Political Leaning | D+13 | R+15 |
| White (%) | 48.9% | 60.5% |
| Black (%) | 42.6% | 32.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 4.2% | 4.0% |
| Asian (%) | 1.7% | 1.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.6% | 2.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 24 min | 23 min |
| Walkability | 8.9/20 | 6.7/20 |
| Airport Distance | 10 mi | 44 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.0% | 86.1% |
| Amenities Nearby | 0.70 | 1.17 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Jefferson County or Tuscaloosa County more affordable?
- Tuscaloosa County has the lower cost of living: its index is $48k, compared with Jefferson County's $49k and Tuscaloosa County's $48k. Median rent is $1k in Jefferson County versus $974 in Tuscaloosa County.
- Is Jefferson County or Tuscaloosa County safer?
- Tuscaloosa County has the lower violent crime rate. Jefferson County reports 2021/100k and Tuscaloosa County reports 1948/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Jefferson County or Tuscaloosa County?
- The median home value is $209k in Jefferson County and $219k in Tuscaloosa County, so homes are more affordable in Jefferson County.