Florence-Muscle Shoals receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Tuscaloosa
Florence-Muscle Shoals
Opportunity
45 · Bottom 29%
vs42 · Bottom 22%
Growth
52 · Top 46%
vs60 · Top 34%
Climate
73 · Top 27%
vs77 · Top 11%
Physical resilience
55 · Bottom 49%
vs53 · Bottom 47%
Housing affordability
88 · Bottom 32%
vs100 · Top 29%
Access
70 · Bottom 39%
vs62 · Bottom 25%
Economic stability
31 · Bottom 22%
vs41 · Bottom 36%
Measured values
| Metric | Tuscaloosa | Florence-Muscle Shoals | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 278,526 | 153,852 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,517 | $61,891 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,687 | $35,173 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 80/sq mi | 122/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $230,700 | $187,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,005 | $853 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.0% | 69.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -1.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.3% | 26.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.1% | 14.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 616 | 370 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 2.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -0.3% | 21.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 53.5" | 57.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 52 mi | 55 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 26.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.0 | 41.6 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Tuscaloosa
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Florence-Muscle Shoals
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Tuscaloosa
59
Your Score
59
Area Score
Florence-Muscle Shoals
62
Your Score
62
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Tuscaloosa, AL Metro Area · Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology