Cost of Living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
In Tuscaloosa, the median household income is $51,464 and the median gross rent is $1,055/mo, with a median home value of $255,500. Source: Census Bureau ACS, 2020-2024 estimates.
- Median household income
- $51,464
- Median gross rent
- $1,055/mo
- Median home value
- $255,500
- Population
- 111,038
How Tuscaloosa compares to the Alabama average
| Measure | Tuscaloosa, AL | Alabama statewide | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,464 | $63,999 | -19.6% |
| Median gross rent (monthly) | $1,055 | $1,007 | +4.8% |
| Median home value | $255,500 | $209,900 | +21.7% |
Statewide, Alabama prices average 88.8 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (2024), where the U.S. average is 100.
Housing affordability in Tuscaloosa
- Salary needed for median rent
- $42,200
- Rent burden at median income
- 24.6%
- Est. affordable home price
- $187,737
So that $1,055/mo is 30% of gross income
Share of the median household income spent on median rent (30%+ = cost-burdened)
At median income, 6.67% 30-yr rate (FRED, 2026-08), 20% down, 28% front-end DTI
The median home value in Tuscaloosa is $255,500 — +36.1% above what the median household income supports under these assumptions.
Estimates from documented formulas — see methodology. Not financial advice.
Cost of living in other Alabama cities
About this data
- American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates — data period 2020-2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Regional Price Parities — data period 2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Federal Reserve Economic Data — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 13, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.