Residential comparison · 13 facts
Bessemer, AL vs Tuscaloosa, AL
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Bessemer needs about $89,500 in Tuscaloosa to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Tuscaloosa, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $80,500 in Bessemer.
A few differences
- Tuscaloosa is higher on median household income ($51,464 vs $39,613).
- Bessemer is lower on cost of living index (77 vs 83).
- Bessemer is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,061/mo vs $1,067/mo).
Bessemer vs Tuscaloosa · facet by facet
| Facet | Bessemer, AL | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $135,900 | $255,500 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,061/mo | $1,067/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| State & local income tax | 4.41% | 4.41% |
| Sales tax | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Cost of living index | 77 | 83 |
| Groceries index | 97 | 97 |
| Utilities | $190/mo | $190/mo |
| Median household income | $39,613 | $51,464 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| Crime index | 55/100 | 55/100 |
| School rating | 4.3/10 | 4.3/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 215 days | 215 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Bessemer, AL · Tuscaloosa, AL
Questions & answers
- Is Bessemer cheaper than Tuscaloosa?
- Bessemer has the lower day-to-day cost index (77 vs 83 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Tuscaloosa equals $85,000 in Bessemer?
- A household earning $85,000 in Bessemer needs about $89,500 in Tuscaloosa to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Tuscaloosa lifestyle costs about $80,500 in Bessemer.