Tuscaloosa earns a D, 143rd among Alabama's 187 graded towns, mostly because of safety. Its crime rate is higher than 89% of U.S. towns, with 550 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. What it does well: it is more walkable than 84% of U.S. towns. 46% of working residents work locally in Tuscaloosa, against 9.8% in Alabama’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. Its National Register listings include Gorgas-Manly Historic District and Battle-Friedman House. On cost of living, just 29 of Alabama’s 308 towns do worse.

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityWeakestDSafety CHealth

What makes Tuscaloosa stand out

Where Tuscaloosa beats most towns.

Foster Auditorium, The University of Alabama

HistoryB⁺

Settled in 1819

35 places on the National Register

A history going back 207 years.

Including Dinah Washington and Robert J. Van de Graaff.

Biggest of 3

College	Students
The University of Alabama	33,624
Shelton State Community College	2,924
Stillman College	621

College town

3 colleges

37,169 students on campus

Students are part of everyday life here.

Foster Auditorium, The University of Alabama · National Register of Historic Places

Tuscaloosa’s story

207 years in pictures

Foster Auditorium, The University of Alabama is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its 35 National Register listings are more than in 95% of Alabama towns with a listing.

Census counts: 1,949 in 1840, a low of 1,689 in 1870, 99,600 in 2020. The archive holds 29 old photos and papers going back to 1830 and 3 maps from 1924 on.

1819Tuscaloosa is settled

Explore the history →

How Tuscaloosa grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Alabama), ordered by how far Tuscaloosa is from typical.

How grading works

SafetyDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.3 of 20; 9.6% of households have no car; 6.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA⁻Open →HealthLess healthy than 72% of U.S. towns; DCH Regional Medical Center 1.9 miles awayCOpen →SchoolsCOpen →Jobs & income$51K median household income; 54,385 jobs based hereC⁺Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC⁺Open →Cost of livingTypical home $244K, 4 years of the Tuscaloosa metro’s $62K median household incomeC⁺Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors2% conserved landBOpen →History65 notable people born hereB⁺Open →Civic life4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC⁻Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market38 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 27.2; 39% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Tuscaloosa: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Tuscaloosa, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerAlabama Power17.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterTuscaloosa Water & Sewer2 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet6 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpBy addressTown pickup · day by addressTown site

SchoolsTuscaloosa City School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Alabama you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereTuscaloosa County Circuit ClerkTuscaloosa County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2019

ZIP codes35401, 35405, 35404, 3540635401 40% · 35405 26% · 35404 16% · 35406 15%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Tuscaloosa.

Tuscaloosa is shaped by its college students and draws workers from Northport and beyond, but it reports more crime than Northport and its other graded neighbors.

OutdoorsB

Conserved land covers 2.3% of Tuscaloosa

58 miles of trail in 52 parks and preserves. The trail density in Tuscaloosa is 0.8 miles per square mile. Munny Sokol Park, at 330 acres with 14.6 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.

#15for trails in AL

	Tuscaloosa	Alabama towns	U.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile	0.8 miles per square mile	0.1	0.4
Conserved land	2.3%	1.2%	4.3%

2.3%

conserved · 1,061 of 46,478 acres

58 mi

of trails · 0.8 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Munny Sokol Park	14.6 mi	330
2. University of Alabama Arboretum	10.1 mi	205
3. Buddy Powell Pavilion Park	1.9 mi	121

Full pageTuscaloosa’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map58 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk14.6 miles of trail · Munny Sokol Park Conserved land2.3% conserved · 1,061 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Tuscaloosa?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsC

On state tests, Tuscaloosa’s schools trail 68% of Alabama districts

Each of its 5 graded neighbors has a higher School Grade than its C, Holt highest at B−.

Its public schools are run by the Tuscaloosa City school district. Three of its 28 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

32%of AL districts it outscoresCSchool Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Northridge Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	775	A⁻
Northridge High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,153	B⁺
Rock Quarry Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades PK–5	Grades PK–5	671	A⁺

Full pageTuscaloosa’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsTuscaloosa City Vs. the neighborsBehind its 5 graded neighbors Every school28 schools · Rock Quarry Elementary School Questions“Are Tuscaloosa’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within AL on state tests and graduation

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C⁺

About half of working residents work right in Tuscaloosa

54,385 jobs are based in Tuscaloosa, 1.7 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.

25% of Tuscaloosa residents live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Northport (8%), Birmingham (5%) and Hoover (2%). Tuscaloosa’s average trip to work is 20 minutes.

46%work in town

	Tuscaloosa	Alabama towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	25%	16%	9.6%
Average trip to work	20 minutes	25 minutes	25 minutes
Median household income	$51,000	$62,000	$80,000
Work from home	8.2%	6.7%	11%

Where working residents work

In Tuscaloosa46%

Northport8%

Birmingham5%

Hoover2%

Montgomery2%

6 mi

median commute distance

54,385

jobs based in Tuscaloosa

A job hub

jobs vs. working residents

A−

Walkability grade: more walkable than 84% of U.S. towns

Full pageTuscaloosa’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here54,385 jobs based here · A job hub Where people work46% work in Tuscaloosa Commute times20 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 6 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SafetyD

Tuscaloosa earns a D for safety

Each of the 3 graded towns on its borders reports less crime per resident, from Northport (C) to Vance (B). At 47.9 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 72% of Alabama’s graded towns.

Tuscaloosa reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 89% report less.

11%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade

	Tuscaloosa	Alabama towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	4.7 per 1,000 residents	2.9	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	23.7 per 1,000 residents	16.9	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Tuscaloosa4.7

Alabama3.5

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Tuscaloosa23.7

Alabama15

U.S.15.5

11th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

28th

percentile among AL towns

550

violent crimes reported in 2025

2,760

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageTuscaloosa’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type4.7 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighborsBehind its 3 graded neighbors Questions“Is Tuscaloosa, AL safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

HealthC

Tuscaloosa stands out in Alabama and nationally, with more of its adults who report frequent mental distress

Against the 6,291 U.S. towns with household incomes like Tuscaloosa’s, it is healthier than 59%, so its C isn’t only a matter of income. Within Alabama it is healthier than 52% of the 187 graded towns: much of Alabama scores lower on these measures.

21% of adults report frequent mental distress in Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa beats the Alabama average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 38% of adults feel lonely in Tuscaloosa.

28%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade

	Tuscaloosa	Alabama towns	U.S. towns
Food insecurity (CDC PLACES)	29%	19%	14%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	21%	18%	17%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	43%	40%	36%
Feel lonely (CDC PLACES)	38%	36%	33%

32 measures vs. Alabama

8 better15 too close to call9 worse

What stands out	Tuscaloosa	AL
Fewer adults who have had cancer	5.1%	8.2%
Fewer adults with heart disease	5.4%	7.3%
More adults without reliable transportation	15.6%	9.8%

DCH Regional Medical Center

1.9 mi away · emergency room

3 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

52nd

percentile among AL towns

Full pageTuscaloosa’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore adults sleeping under 7 hours Hospitals & doctors nearby1.9 miles to an ER · DCH Regional Medical Center How adults are doingMore adults in frequent mental distress Every CDC estimateBetter than AL on 8 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Climate

In Tuscaloosa, expect mild winters and hot summers

Tuscaloosa has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 92°, January nights drop to 34° and snow is almost unheard of.

92°summer high

Typical low → high °F

Winter36–58°

Spring51–76°

Summer69–91°

Fall53–76°

Nov 10

typical first frost

Mar 18

typical last frost

+0.3°

vs. the 20th-century average

92°

typical summer high

Full pageTuscaloosa’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 92°, January lows 34°Rain & snow55″ of rain a year · Snow is almost unheard of Heating & coolingBoth heating and cooling Then and now+0.3° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C⁺

Tuscaloosa faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 53% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 111 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Tuscaloosa.

53risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingTornadoesEarthquakes

111

paid flood claims since 1979

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageTuscaloosa’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesModerate risk Flood claims111 paid flood claims · Since 1979 Past disasters9 federal disasters · Paid out in Tuscaloosa Get ready2.1 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

HousingCost of living grade C⁺

Fewer of Tuscaloosa’s households own their home than in the typical Alabama or U.S. town

The median property tax bill is $1,210, against $788 across Alabama, another input to its cost-of-living grade.

Only 4 of the 187 Alabama towns we compare have a lower share of households owning their home than Tuscaloosa. The typical Tuscaloosa home is worth about $244,000, up 0.9% in a year, close to the Alabama typical home.

$244KZillow home value

	Tuscaloosa	Alabama towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	43%	70%	73%
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent	56%	46%	48%
Median rent	$1,055 a month	$940 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Tuscaloosa$244K

Alabama$239K

Market temperature

days on market

97.8%

sale-to-list price

+0.9%

value change, 1 year

148

homes sold in May

Full pageTuscaloosa’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 0.9% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 4.7 years of income Rents$1,055 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsBehind its 5 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Nearby attractions

Bryant–Denny Stadium and 6 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Tuscaloosa. Close and well known come first.

All 26 attractions →

Big drawin town Stadium & arenaBryant–Denny Stadium

17 mi Ancient siteMoundville Archaeological Site

in town MuseumAlabama Museum of Natural History 32 mi Theme parkAlabama Adventure & Splash Adventure

in town MuseumTuscaloosa Museum of Art

27 mi MuseumTannehill Ironworks

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Bryant–Denny Stadium: Joel יוֹאֵל, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Moundville Archaeological Site: Altairisfar (Jeffrey Reed), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Alabama Museum of Natural History: Skusnr, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tuscaloosa Museum of Art: Kthurman83, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tannehill Ironworks: Dystopos, CC BY-SA 3.0

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Tuscaloosa

20pages on Tuscaloosa

The big questions

SchoolsCBehind 68% of AL districts · 28 schools SafetyD4.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than AL on 8 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingC⁺$244K typical home · up 0.9% in a year Work & commuteC⁺$51K median household income · 54,385 jobs here Natural hazardsC⁺FEMA risk higher than 53% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsB58 mi of trails · 2% conserved land PlacesAttractions26 nearby · Bryant–Denny Stadium under 1 mi LibraryC⁻Tuscaloosa Public Library CollegesShelton State Community College, in town

The story

HistoryB⁺Settled 1819 · 35 on the National Register Famous people65 born in Tuscaloosa Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 85 residents Climate92° summer highs

Day to day

News10 recent stories about Tuscaloosa WeatherHandbookZIP code 35401, 35402, 35403 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

3 within 15 miles of the center of Tuscaloosa

Shelton State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · TuscaloosaIn town$5,127 in-state tuition The University of AlabamaUniversity or college · Public · TuscaloosaIn town$12,180 in-state tuition Stillman CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · TuscaloosaIn town$12,126 tuition

College town 28 of every 100 Tuscaloosa residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Alabama.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

College town

28% of Tuscaloosa is in college

3 colleges in town.

The University of Alabama33,624 students on campus

Admission: 77%
Net price: $22,420
Graduate: 73%

Shelton State Community College2,924 students on campus

Admission: Open
Net price: $14,557
Graduate: 30%

Stillman College621 students on campus

Admission: 62%
Net price: $15,258
Graduate: 25%

College Scorecard · IPEDS

Landmarks

35 places in Tuscaloosa on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Foster Auditorium, The University of AlabamaBuilt 1939 · National Historic Landmark

Collier-Overby House

Gorgas-Manly Historic District

Battle-Friedman HouseBuilt 1835

Famous people from Tuscaloosa

65 notable people were born in Tuscaloosa.

See all 65 →

Dinah WashingtonAmerican singer · 1924–1963

Robert J. Van de GraaffAmerican physicist · 1901–1967

Deontay WilderAmerican boxer · born 1985

Otis DavisAmerican sprinter · 1932–2024

Lurleen WallaceAmerican politician · 1926–1968

Angel MartinoAmerican swimmer · born 1967

About Tuscaloosa

City in Alabama, United States

Official town website ↗

Tuscaloosa ( TUS-kə-LOO-sə) is a city in and the county seat of Tuscaloosa County in west-central Alabama, United States, on the Black Warrior River where the Gulf Coastal and Piedmont plains meet. Alabama's fifth-most populous city, the population was 99,600 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 114,288 in 2025. It was known as Tuskaloosa until the early 20th century. It is also known as "the Druid City" because of the numerous water oaks planted in its downtown streets since the 1840s. Incorporated on December 13, 1819, it was named after Tuskaloosa, the chief of a band of Muskogean-speaking people defeated by the forces of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1540 in the Battle of …

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1819
Area: 72 sq mi
Elevation: 223 ft
ZIP code: 35401, 35402, 35403
Area code: 205

Tuscaloosa’s neighbors

5 towns share a border with Tuscaloosa.

Explore the map →

All 3 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its D; Holt (C−) is closest.

HoltNorthportCottondaleVanceBrookwoodTuscaloosa

Holt

Visit

Northport

W · 8% of Tuscaloosa workers commute here

Visit

Cottondale

Visit

Vance

Visit

Brookwood

E · 2% of Tuscaloosa workers commute here

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	AL rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Tuscaloosa	#143	D	C⁺	D	C	C
Holt	#120	C⁻	A⁻	—	B⁻	D⁻
Northport	#103	C⁻	B⁻	C	B⁻	B
Cottondale	#77	C⁺	A	—	B⁻	C⁻
Vance	—	—	B⁺	B	B⁻	B
Brookwood	—	—	B	C	B⁻	B⁻

Vance and Brookwood have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Holt and Cottondale report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Tuscaloosa with a neighbor →

Questions about Tuscaloosa

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Tuscaloosa, AL a good place to live?

Tuscaloosa grades D overall, better than 11% of U.S. towns and #143 of 187 in Alabama. It grades C for health, D for safety and C for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D.

Is Tuscaloosa, AL expensive?

Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.

What is Tuscaloosa, AL known for?

65 notable people were born here, including Dinah Washington and Robert J. Van de Graaff.

Post to Tuscaloosa

Check your email

TuscaloosaAL

Is Tuscaloosa a good place to live?

What makes Tuscaloosa stand out

207 years in pictures

How Tuscaloosa grades

Moving to Tuscaloosa: who provides what

The data

Conserved land covers 2.3% of Tuscaloosa

On state tests, Tuscaloosa’s schools trail 68% of Alabama districts

About half of working residents work right in Tuscaloosa

Where working residents work

Tuscaloosa earns a D for safety

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Tuscaloosa stands out in Alabama and nationally, with more of its adults who report frequent mental distress

In Tuscaloosa, expect mild winters and hot summers

Typical low → high °F

Tuscaloosa faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

Fewer of Tuscaloosa’s households own their home than in the typical Alabama or U.S. town

Typical home value

Bryant–Denny Stadium and 6 more within 40 miles

Everything we know about Tuscaloosa

Colleges nearby

28% of Tuscaloosa is in college

Landmarks

Famous people from Tuscaloosa

About Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa’s neighbors

Questions about Tuscaloosa