Jonesboro AR 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)

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

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

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

107,699

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

N/A

Median Age

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

28.2

Foreign Born

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

4.7%

White

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

49.6%

Black

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

42.8%

Asian

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

2.6%

Hispanic

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

5.2%

Spanish at Home

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

N/A

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Population	N/A	107,699	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	28.2	-
Foreign Born	N/A	4.7%	-
White	N/A	49.6%	-
Black	N/A	42.8%	-
Asian	N/A	2.6%	-
Hispanic	N/A	5.2%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

$48,536

Per Capita Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

$31,324

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Jonesboro

$53,714

Jonesboro +

Tuscaloosa

$51,690

Unemployment Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

7.0%

Poverty Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

23.8%

Bachelor's Degree+

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

38.1%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$48,536	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$31,324	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$53,714	$51,690	Jonesboro +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	7.0%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	23.8%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	38.1%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Tuscaloosa

$231,461

Homeownership Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

45.1%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$225,577	$231,461	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	45.1%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

660

Tuscaloosa

400

Tuscaloosa +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

2507

Tuscaloosa

1734

Tuscaloosa +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	400	Tuscaloosa +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	1734	Tuscaloosa +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

39.2%

Jonesboro +

Tuscaloosa

42.6%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Tuscaloosa

12.0%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Jonesboro

20.5%

Jonesboro +

Tuscaloosa

21.3%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.6%

Tuscaloosa

11.5%

Tuscaloosa +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.1%

Tuscaloosa

15.1%

Tie

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.7%

Tuscaloosa

14.7%

Tuscaloosa +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	39.2%	42.6%	Jonesboro +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.4%	12.0%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.5%	21.3%	Jonesboro +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.6%	11.5%	Tuscaloosa +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	15.1%	Tie
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.7%	14.7%	Tuscaloosa +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Tuscaloosa

65.0°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Jonesboro +

Tuscaloosa

55.0 in

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.2°F	65.0°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.2 in	55.0 in	Jonesboro +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Tuscaloosa

8.8 µg/m³

Tuscaloosa +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Jonesboro

55.0%

Tuscaloosa

75.0%

Tuscaloosa +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	8.8 µg/m³	Tuscaloosa +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Tuscaloosa +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Jonesboro

N/A

Tuscaloosa

20.0 min

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	20.0 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Tuscaloosa is safer with a violent crime rate of 400 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Tuscaloosa has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.8 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Jonesboro scores better with a lower obesity rate of 39.2%.

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About Jonesboro & Tuscaloosa

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