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METRO AREA

Tuscaloosa Metro

Tuscaloosa, AL · 4 counties · 281,850 residents (2025 est.) · 3,493 sq mi
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The short version

With 278,526 people, Tuscaloosa is a metro area. The median age is 34.1, younger than the US median of 38.9. The population is up 31% since 2000. 4% of people across the metro were born outside the United States. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $229,399. 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $62,466, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Tuscaloosa

What changed most since 1990

  • White share65.7% → 56.3% (−9.4 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
  • Hispanic share0.5% → 5.1% (+4.5 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
  • Median age31.3 → 34.1 (+2.8 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years

Among the 24 metro and micro areas based in Alabama

  • 10th in household income$62,466
  • 6th in share with a bachelor's degree29.6%
  • 5th in home value$229,399
  • 4th in diversity score68.4
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
278,526
+31%since 2000
from 212,983 in 2000
281,850 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
80 / sq mi
+31%since 2000
from 61 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.1
+4%since 2000
from 32.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
3,493 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
189K213K238K262K287K19902000201020202024Tuscaloosa
2024279K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.4%(15,087)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96%(16,832)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.7%(15,841)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 199.8%(27,248)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2410.9%(30,438)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.4%(37,341)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.9%(33,051)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.8%(30,209)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.1%(30,810)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.3%(25,837)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.2%(11,594)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(4,238)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$62,466
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,250 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,688
+90%since 2000
from $17,721 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.0%
+20.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.470
−3%since 2010
from 0.484 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$229,399
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $85,567 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$978
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $436 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.1%
−3.9 ptssince 2000
from 66.9% in 2000
36.9% rent
Vacancy rate
15.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.47 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.47 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
17.8%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.3%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.6
+6%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
61
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic61.9%(131,744)
Black35.3%(75,113)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(2,492)
Asian0.7%(1,561)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic56.3%(156,716)
Black34.1%(94,870)
Hispanic / Latino5.1%(14,069)
Asian1.4%(3,823)
Other3.2%(9,048)
Diversity Score
68
+15%since 2009
from 60 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
43
−11%since 2020
from 48 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.8%(7,741)
Central American0.7%(1,959)
Puerto Rican0.5%(1,471)
Guatemalan0.6%(1,410)
Cuban0.3%(812)
Dominican0.1%(265)
Honduran0.1%(246)
Salvadoran0.1%(189)
Colombian0%(115)
Argentine0%(107)
Spaniard0%(67)
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Chinese0.5%(1,196)
Asian Indian0.4%(943)
Vietnamese0.2%(374)
Korean0.1%(357)
Pakistani0.1%(305)
Bangladeshi0.1%(226)
Filipino0.1%(224)
Japanese0.1%(160)
Nepalese0%(69)
Cambodian0%(43)
Thai0%(20)
Burmese0%(8)
+ 1 more asian origin group with data
Laotian0%(6)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(15)
Ancestry
English10.2%(28,437)
American10.1%(28,131)
Irish6.8%(18,839)
German5.3%(14,684)
Italian1.9%(5,088)
Scottish1.8%(4,887)
French1.2%(3,360)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(2,860)
Polish0.4%(1,191)
Dutch0.4%(1,007)
Swedish0.3%(816)
+ 40 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.3%(761)
British0.2%(646)
Arab0.2%(603)
Russian0.2%(532)
Norwegian0.2%(466)
Greek0.2%(454)
Hungarian0.2%(411)
West Indian0.2%(395)
Swiss0.1%(371)
Nigerian0.1%(325)
Iranian0.1%(294)
Turkish0.1%(252)
Jamaican0.1%(241)
Ukrainian0.1%(236)
Czech0.1%(217)
Finnish0.1%(163)
Lebanese0.1%(144)
Kenyan0.1%(144)
Portuguese0.1%(141)
Slovak0.1%(136)
Canadian0.1%(129)
Croatian0.1%(127)
Romanian0%(111)
Danish0%(104)
Brazilian0%(99)
Egyptian0%(79)
Armenian0%(79)
Austrian0%(62)
Haitian0%(53)
Ghanaian0%(48)
Belgian0%(28)
Slovene0%(18)
Israeli0%(9)
Somali0%(5)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.6%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 20.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.4%
+14.3 ptssince 2000
from 76.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.5%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 8.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.5 min
+53%since 2000
from 16.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.1%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 83.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.4%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.9%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 8.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2011
from 58.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
69.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 68.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
15.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.6%
+8.4 ptssince 2009
from 30.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
51.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
4.2%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.3%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2012
from 14.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.9%
−5.6 ptssince 2013
from 12.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.8%
+14.9 ptssince 2017
from 71.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
93.7%
+5.7 ptssince 2020
from 88.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
84.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2020
from 84.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
94.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 95.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 2.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married43.6%(48,019)
Married45.5%(50,124)
Widowed2.6%(2,824)
Divorced8.3%(9,197)
Women 15+
Never married39.7%(47,824)
Married40.9%(49,366)
Widowed8.4%(10,171)
Divorced11%(13,241)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
6.9%
−5.6 ptssince 2013
from 12.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
59.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 58.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
14.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 13.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
17.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 17.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
18.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 19.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 2.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
71.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 70.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
34.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 34.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)26.4%(3,682)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)25.6%(3,572)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era31.5%(4,393)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.9%(405)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.7%(96)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 13,943 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Tuscaloosa, decade by decade

Tuscaloosa population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
1990196,872$51,045$133,26117.2%52.2
2000212,983$58,749$155,87320.7%61.6
2010239,207$56,875$193,93523.3%63.9
2020268,674$62,063$200,71928.5%70.3
2024278,526$62,466$229,39929.6%68.4

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

In this metro

Largest cities

TuscaloosaCENTRAL114,316Northport31,648Holt3,629Moundville3,628Eutaw2,640Cottondale2,632Brookwood2,467Greensboro2,195Aliceville2,024Coaling2,003Gordo1,553Reform1,432Carrollton966Coker883Pickensville545Macedonia441Forkland417Boligee271Akron236Union166Newbern144Ethelsville47McMullen31Memphis26
What's inside

4 component counties

Tuscaloosa CountyCENTRAL241,368Pickens County18,221Hale County15,194Greene County7,067
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Tuscaloosa

Laredo
Pop 281,224
Erie
Pop 265,832
College Station
Pop 287,476
Merced
Pop 297,260
Places similar to Tuscaloosa
Head to head

Compare Tuscaloosa side by side

TUSCALOOSA VS
Laredo
Income$63,058+1%
Home value$189,900−17%
Population281,224same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TUSCALOOSA VS
Erie
Income$63,354+1%
Home value$177,000−23%
Population265,832−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TUSCALOOSA VS
College Station
Income$60,172−4%
Home value$282,096+23%
Population287,476+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TUSCALOOSA VS
Merced
Income$65,510+5%
Home value$391,800+71%
Population297,260+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Tuscaloosa, AL?

Tuscaloosa, AL has about 278,526 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Tuscaloosa, AL?

The typical household in Tuscaloosa, AL earns about $62,466 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Tuscaloosa, AL expensive?

In Tuscaloosa, AL, the median home is worth about $229,399, and the typical rent is about $978 a month.

How educated are people in Tuscaloosa, AL?

About 29.6% of adults age 25 and over in Tuscaloosa, AL hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Tuscaloosa, AL?

About 18.1% of people in Tuscaloosa, AL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Tuscaloosa, AL grown since 1990?

Yes, Tuscaloosa, AL has grown since 1990. The population has added about 81,654 residents, a change of about 41 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Tuscaloosa, AL: population, income & housing data · CensusEasy