Best Places to Live in Tuscaloosa Metro Area, Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Alabama is a vibrant city located in western central Alabama. With an estimated population of approximately 100,000 people, it is the fifth largest city in the state and serves as the county seat of Tuscaloosa County. Home to large employers such as Mercedes-Benz U.S. International and University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa has been included in many national publications as one of the best cities to live in America. Attractions include the Paul W. Bryant Museum, The Children's Hands-On Museum and Lake Lurleen State Park which offer exciting experiences for all ages. Local cuisine also provides a unique taste of Tuscaloosa with dishes such as pulled pork sandwiches and banana pudding providing an authentic taste of Southern comfort food. College town - West-central Alabama along I-20/I-59, 60 miles west of Birmingham.

State: Alabama
County: Tuscaloosa, Pickens, 3 total
Metro Area: Tuscaloosa Metro Area
City: Tuscaloosa, Northport, 21 total

Zip Codes: 35405, 35401, 35404, 35406, 35473, 35475, 35453, 35476, 35474, 36744, 27 total
Cost of Living: -14.4% lower
Time zone: Central Standard Time (CST)
Elevation: 160 ft above sea level

Pros
College-town amenities
Strong economy
Healthcare

Cons
Summer heat and humidity
Educational attainment
Isolation

What Bert Has To Say About Tuscaloosa Metro Area

Tuscaloosa is home to the University of Alabama, a large quality institution known among other things for its sports programs, notably football’s “Crimson Tide.” The city has a strong college-town character with the usual entertainment and cultural amenities. For such a college town, the economy has always been fairly diverse, but more recently, the arrival of a Mercedes-Benz plant has done a lot for the city’s economy as well as its image. As found elsewhere in the South, the new auto plant not only brings direct employment but also supports smaller businesses, further strengthening the economy, and that pattern is evident in the strong job statistics.

Highlights

ECONOMY

The unemployment rate in Tuscaloosa Metro Area is 3.7% (U.S. avg. is 6.0%). Recent job growth is Positive. Tuscaloosa Metro Area jobs have increased by 1.9%. More Economy

COST OF LIVING

Compared to the rest of the country, Tuscaloosa Metro Area's cost of living is 14.4% lower than the U.S. average. More Cost of Living or Compare Tuscaloosa Metro Area's Cost of Living

WEATHER & CLIMATE

October, May and April are the most pleasant months in the Tuscaloosa metro area, while July and August are the least comfortable months. Today's Weather | Climate Averages

VOTING

In the last Presidential election, the Tuscaloosa metro area remained strongly Republican, 55.8% to 42.9%. More Voting Stats

POPULATION

Tuscaloosa Metro Area's population is 265,855 people. Since 2020, it has had a population growth of 6.8%. Learn More...

TRANSPORTATION

Average Commute time is 23.2 minutes. The National Average is 26.4 minutes. Learn More...

REAL ESTATE

The median home cost in Tuscaloosa Metro Area is . Home appreciation the last 10 years has been 13.7%.

SCHOOLS

Tuscaloosa Metro Area public schools spend $11,198 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $12,383. There are about 15.9 students per teacher in Tuscaloosa Metro Area. More Education

Best Places to Live in Tuscaloosa Rankings

#64	America's Most (and Least) Stressful Cities (117 Smallest Metro Areas)
#100	America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Smallest Metro Areas)
#111	2005 Best Places to Live
#299	Best Green Cities

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Housing Market in Tuscaloosa

It's a good time to buy in Tuscaloosa. Home Appreciation is up 13.7% in the last 12 months.
The median home price in Tuscaloosa is .

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MAPS OF TUSCALOOSA METRO AREA, ALABAMA

ZIP CODES IN TUSCALOOSA METRO AREA, ALABAMA

35405, 35401, 35404, 35406, 35473, 35475, 35453, 35476, 35474, 36744, 27 total

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United States / Alabama / Tuscaloosa Metro Area / Counties / Cities / Zip Codes