Bessemer vs Tuscaloosa
Bessemer, Alabama versus Tuscaloosa, Alabama: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Bessemer and Tuscaloosa score about the same overall (44 vs 43 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Bessemer | Tuscaloosa |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $35k | $47k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $48k |
| Home Value | $119k | $228k |
| Monthly Rent | $879 | $980 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.71% | 0.48% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 9.29% | 9.29% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 11.46% | 10.36% |
| Unemployment | 10.8% | 6.8% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 45°F | 45°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 81°F | 82°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.4 in | 51.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2 in | 0.3 in |
| Sunny Days | 264 days | 264 days |
| Summer Humidity | 71°F | 71°F |
| Comfortable Days | 78 days | 74 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 36.8 | 46.6 |
| Air Quality | 50 AQI | 48 AQI |
| School Quality | 47.4 | 47.0 |
| Violent Crime | 4283/100k | 2707/100k |
| Property Crime | 7528/100k | 2905/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 25,890 | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 41.8 | 28.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.44 | 0.56 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.87 | 0.91 |
| Political Leaning | D+13 | R+15 |
| White (%) | 18.4% | 48.6% |
| Black (%) | 72.0% | 42.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.5% | 4.2% |
| Asian (%) | 0.2% | 2.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.0% | 1.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 25 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 11.0/20 | 5.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 18 mi | 45 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 78.7% | 83.9% |
| Amenities Nearby | 15.84 | 3.69 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: 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 Bessemer or Tuscaloosa more affordable?
- Tuscaloosa has the lower cost of living: its index is $48k, compared with Bessemer's $49k and Tuscaloosa's $48k. Median rent is $879 in Bessemer versus $980 in Tuscaloosa.
- Is Bessemer or Tuscaloosa safer?
- Tuscaloosa has the lower violent crime rate. Bessemer reports 4283/100k and Tuscaloosa reports 2707/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Bessemer or Tuscaloosa?
- The median home value is $119k in Bessemer and $228k in Tuscaloosa, so homes are more affordable in Bessemer.