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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Tuscaloosa Metro

Tuscaloosa, AL · 4 counties · 268,674 residents · 3,493.269 sq mi
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The short version

Tuscaloosa has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $51,206. Population has grown 26% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $165,604. At a median age of 34.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 34.5
US median: 38.8
Average education
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
268,674
+26%since 2000
from 212,983 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
77 / sq mi
+26%since 2000
from 61 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
34.5
+5%since 2000
from 32.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
189K213K238K262K287K1990201020202024Tuscaloosa
2024279K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,206
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,250 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,610
+50%since 2000
from $17,721 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
34.0%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
18.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 19.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade15.5%
US avg: 10%
Information11.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.7%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$165,604
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $85,567 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$811
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $436 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
61.2%
−5.8 ptssince 2000
from 66.9% in 2000
38.8% rent
Afford Score
3.2
+22%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Tuscaloosa on RentDataNow
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%
Diversity Score60.3%(128,532)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic56.6%(152,203)
Black33.8%(90,767)
Hispanic / Latino5%(13,561)
Asian1.2%(3,344)
Other1.4%(3,805)
Diversity Score68.2%(183,135)
Segregation Score48.3%(129,636)
Diversity Score
68
+13%since 2000
from 60 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
48
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.5%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 20.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.3%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 76.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.6%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.6 min
+54%since 2000
from 16.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 83.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.5%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.5%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 8.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
58.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2011
from 58.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
35.2%
−25.7 ptssince 2009
from 60.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
51.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
3.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.5%
−80.0 ptssince 2013
from 87.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
In this metro

Principal cities

TuscaloosaCENTRAL114,316
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+23%
Home value$189,900+15%
Population281,224same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TUSCALOOSA VS
Erie
Income$63,354+24%
Home value$177,000+7%
Population265,832−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TUSCALOOSA VS
College Station
Income$60,172+18%
Home value$282,096+70%
Population287,476+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TUSCALOOSA VS
Merced
Income$65,510+28%
Home value$391,800+137%
Population297,260+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Tuscaloosa, AL?

Tuscaloosa, AL has about 268,674 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Tuscaloosa, AL?

The typical household in Tuscaloosa, AL earns about $51,206 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 $165,604, and the typical rent is about $811 a month.

How educated are people in Tuscaloosa, AL?

About 28.5% 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 18.7% 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 71,802 residents, a change of about 36 percent over that period.

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

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