Chattanooga vs Tuscaloosa
The short version
- Tuscaloosa is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 4% lower than in the Chattanooga area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $255,500 in Tuscaloosa and $283,200 in Chattanooga.
- Households earn more in Chattanooga ($64,523 vs $51,464 median).
- Tuscaloosa has the warmer winter: January highs of 56°F vs 51°F.
- Tuscaloosa has more scorching days: 89 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 58.
- Tuscaloosa is growing faster: +13.2% since 2020 vs +6.9%.
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages; Alabama's top rate is 5%.
Side by side
| Chattanooga, TN | Tuscaloosa, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 194,144 | 114,316 |
| Growth since 2020 | +6.9% | +13.2% |
| People per square mile | 1,364 | 1,828 |
| Median age | 36.3 | 27.2 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36% | 39% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $64,523 | $51,464 |
| Median home value | $283,200 | $255,500 |
| Home value to income | 4.4× | 5.0× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,256 | $1,055 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 91.5 | 87.7 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 76.6 | 58.2 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $68,600 | $65,800 |
| Homeowners | 52% | 43% |
| Top state income tax | None | 5% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.61% | 9.46% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 18.5 | 19.6 |
| Work from home | 14% | 8% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.4% | 7.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.1% | 25.1% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 51° / 32° | 56° / 35° |
| July high / low | 91° / 71° | 92° / 71° |
| Precipitation per year | 55 in | 57 in |
| Snowfall per year | 4 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 58 | 89 |
| Nights below freezing | 56 | 47 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 2 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 93.3 | 90.8 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 51% | 74% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.9% | -0.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +51.5% | +32.7% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Chattanooga: May and September to October. Tuscaloosa: May and October.
Full monthly tables: Chattanooga weather by month and Tuscaloosa weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $68,600 in Chattanooga and $65,800 in Tuscaloosa. Moving from Chattanooga to Tuscaloosa, you would need about $71,900 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.