Where Tuscaloosa Ranks Among Best Cities To Live In Alabama: REPORT

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa has been ranked the No. 12 best place to live in Alabama in the latest 2026-2027 rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.

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The annual rankings evaluated communities across the state and nation using factors including affordability, desirability, quality of life and job market strength.

Tuscaloosa finished ahead of only Birmingham among the 13 Alabama cities included in the rankings.

According to the U.S. News profile for Tuscaloosa, the city received an overall score of 5.5 out of 10 in the national rankings, with the publication citing affordability and cost of living as some of Tuscaloosa’s strongest categories.

Overall, Tuscaloosa ranked 517th in terms of Best Places to Live in the country, while finishing 521st on the list of Best Places to Retire.

The report included several demographic and economic data points about Tuscaloosa, including:

• Population: 114,274
• Median age: 26.7 years old
• Median household income: $54,212
• Per capita income: $31,881
• Persons living in poverty: 21.9%
• Median home value: $278,500
• Average commute time: 19.6 minutes
• Bachelor’s degree or higher attainment: 39.6%
• Foreign-born population: 7.4%

U.S. Census data referenced in the rankings also showed Tuscaloosa’s median household income trails both state and national averages.

Alabama’s statewide median household income was listed at $66,659, while the national figure was $81,604.

Tuscaloosa’s poverty rate of 21.9% was also higher than both Alabama’s statewide poverty rate of 15.2% and the national rate of 12.2%.

Housing prices in Tuscaloosa, however, remained below the national average. The city’s median owner-occupied home value of $278,500 was lower than the national median of $360,600.

The report also pointed to Tuscaloosa’s young population and highly educated workforce, driven by the University of Alabama. Nearly 40% of adults in the city hold at least a bachelor’s degree, which is above both state and national averages.

According to the report, Hoover was ranked the best place to live in Alabama and also placed No. 6 nationally among all U.S. cities included in the rankings.

Daphne ranked second in Alabama and No. 42 nationally, while Decatur finished third statewide and No. 60 nationally.

The full Alabama rankings released by U.S. News & World Report

1. Hoover
2. Daphne
3. Decatur
4. Dothan
5. Huntsville
6. Montgomery
7. Florence
8. Auburn
9. Mobile
10. Anniston
11. Gadsden
12. Tuscaloosa
13. Birmingham

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