Tuscaloosa receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Jackson
Tuscaloosa
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 28%
vs42 · Bottom 21%
Growth
56 · Top 40%
vs61 · Top 31%
Climate
75 · Top 29%
vs72 · Top 39%
Physical resilience
65 · Top 43%
vs59 · Top 49%
Housing affordability
69 · Bottom 33%
vs63 · Bottom 24%
Access
64 · Bottom 9%
vs71 · Bottom 13%
Economic stability
39 · Bottom 17%
vs27 · Bottom 5%
Measured values
| Metric | Jackson | Tuscaloosa | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 68,435 | 111,038 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $53,032 | $51,464 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,372 | $31,728 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,165/sq mi | 1,776/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $217,800 | $255,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,145 | $1,055 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 51.2% | 42.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.6% | -1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.8% | 39.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 22.2% | 25.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 155 | 429 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 3.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -0.6% | -2.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 29°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 53.9" | 57.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 62 mi | 50 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 21.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.5 | 27.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 24 | 28 | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Jackson
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Tuscaloosa
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Jackson
52
Your Score
52
Area Score
Tuscaloosa
57
Your Score
57
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Jackson, TN · Tuscaloosa, AL · How this is calculated: methodology