City Comparison
Bessemer vs Tuscaloosa
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
Alabama, USA
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VS
Tuscaloosa scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Bessemer
Tuscaloosa
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Bessemer | Tuscaloosa | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $0 | $1,450 | -100% |
| Groceries | $0 | $450 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $250 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $120 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $121 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $0 | $2,391 | -100% |
| Cost Index | 87 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Tuscaloosa offers 100% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Bessemer | Tuscaloosa |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $54,163 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $39,720 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Bessemer | Tuscaloosa |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Bessemer has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
10,000 minutes (167 hours) per year compared to Tuscaloosa.
Tuscaloosa scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Tuscaloosa leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Bessemer | Tuscaloosa |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | — | 20.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 33.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | ||
| Car Dependency | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Tuscaloosa is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Tuscaloosa is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Bessemer has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Bessemer | Tuscaloosa |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 0 | 116,477 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 1.89% |
| Median Age | 27.2 | |
| Unemployment | % | 4.20% |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Bessemer
Tuscaloosa
Advantages
The cost of living in Tuscaloosa is 11% to 13.1% lower than the national average, with housing expenses being 26% cheaper.
Tuscaloosa's crime rates, including homicides and property crimes, saw significant drops in 2025 compared to 2024.
The average commute time in Tuscaloosa is 19.6 minutes, which is shorter than the U.S. average.
The city has a stable and growing job market, with employment increasing by 1.64% from 2023 to 2024.
Tuscaloosa was ranked among the nation's top 25 cities for small business growth from May 2024 to May 2025.
Drawbacks
Tuscaloosa's violent crime rate of 553.4 per 100,000 residents is higher than the national average of 359.1.
The city has a relatively low walkability score of 33, indicating high car dependency for most errands.
Utility prices in Tuscaloosa are approximately 11% to 13.2% higher than the national average.
A significant portion of Tuscaloosa families, 25.13%, live in poverty.
The city's transit score is not widely reported and appears to be low, suggesting limited public transportation options.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Bessemer
Alabama, USA
0.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
%
Livability
0
Business
0
Tuscaloosa
#383Alabama, USA
59.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$54,163
Cost Index
87
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
20.0/100
Walkability
33.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.89%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
65
Business
70
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