Glendale CA vs Tuscaloosa AL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Glendale, CA

California · Population: 192,270

  • Median HH Income$84,262
  • Median Home Price$1,205,826
  • Unemployment8.2%
  • Bachelor's+45.5%

Tuscaloosa, AL

Alabama · Population: 107,699

  • Median HH Income$48,536
  • Median Home Price$231,461
  • Unemployment7.0%
  • Bachelor's+38.1%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Glendale
192,270
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
107,699
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Glendale
N/A
Tuscaloosa
N/A
Median Age
Glendale
41.4
Tuscaloosa
28.2
Tuscaloosa +
Foreign Born
Glendale
51.0%
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
4.7%
White
Glendale
67.4%
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
49.6%
Black
Glendale
1.7%
Tuscaloosa
42.8%
Tuscaloosa +
Asian
Glendale
13.3%
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
2.6%
Hispanic
Glendale
18.5%
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
5.2%
Spanish at Home
Glendale
N/A
Tuscaloosa
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Glendale
$84,262
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
$48,536
Per Capita Income
Glendale
$46,597
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
$31,324
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Glendale
$77,230
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
$51,690
Unemployment Rate
Glendale
8.2%
Tuscaloosa
7.0%
Tuscaloosa +
Poverty Rate
Glendale
13.4%
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
23.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
Glendale
45.5%
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
38.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Glendale
$1,205,826
Tuscaloosa
$231,461
Tuscaloosa +
Homeownership Rate
Glendale
35.3%
Tuscaloosa
45.1%
Tuscaloosa +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Glendale
503
Tuscaloosa
400
Tuscaloosa +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Glendale
2388
Tuscaloosa
1734
Tuscaloosa +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Glendale
24.5%
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
42.6%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Glendale
10.9%
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
12.0%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Glendale
16.4%
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
21.3%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Glendale
6.8%
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
11.5%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Glendale
15.6%
Tuscaloosa
15.1%
Tuscaloosa +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Glendale
11.5%
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
14.7%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Glendale
64.1°F
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
65.0°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Glendale
17.3 in
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
55.0 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Glendale
7.9 µg/m³
Glendale +
Tuscaloosa
8.8 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Glendale
75.0%
Tuscaloosa
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Glendale
30.2 min
Tuscaloosa
20.0 min
Tuscaloosa +

Which City is Right for You?

Glendale leads in median household income at $84,262, while tuscaloosa offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $231,461. On public safety, Tuscaloosa is safer with a violent crime rate of 400 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Glendale. Tuscaloosa has a lower unemployment rate at 7.0%, and Glendale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Glendale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 24.5%.

Compare More Cities

About Glendale & Tuscaloosa