North Charleston SC 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)

North Charleston, SC

South Carolina · Population: 117,460

Median HH Income$62,789
Median Home Price$313,219
Unemployment4.3%
Bachelor's+28.0%

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

North Charleston

117,460

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

107,699

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

North Charleston

N/A

Tuscaloosa

N/A

Median Age

North Charleston

34.3

Tuscaloosa

28.2

Tuscaloosa +

Foreign Born

North Charleston

12.2%

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

4.7%

White

North Charleston

39.1%

Tuscaloosa

49.6%

Tuscaloosa +

Black

North Charleston

42.2%

Tuscaloosa

42.8%

Tuscaloosa +

Asian

North Charleston

3.5%

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

2.6%

Hispanic

North Charleston

12.8%

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

5.2%

Spanish at Home

North Charleston

N/A

Tuscaloosa

N/A

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Population	117,460	107,699	North Charleston +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	34.3	28.2	Tuscaloosa +
Foreign Born	12.2%	4.7%	North Charleston +
White	39.1%	49.6%	Tuscaloosa +
Black	42.2%	42.8%	Tuscaloosa +
Asian	3.5%	2.6%	North Charleston +
Hispanic	12.8%	5.2%	North Charleston +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

North Charleston

$62,789

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

$48,536

Per Capita Income

North Charleston

$35,740

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

$31,324

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

North Charleston

$54,550

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

$51,690

Unemployment Rate

North Charleston

4.3%

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

7.0%

Poverty Rate

North Charleston

15.5%

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

23.8%

Bachelor's Degree+

North Charleston

28.0%

Tuscaloosa

38.1%

Tuscaloosa +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Median HH Income	$62,789	$48,536	North Charleston +
Per Capita Income	$35,740	$31,324	North Charleston +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$54,550	$51,690	North Charleston +
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	7.0%	North Charleston +
Poverty Rate	15.5%	23.8%	North Charleston +
Bachelor's Degree+	28.0%	38.1%	Tuscaloosa +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

North Charleston

$313,219

Tuscaloosa

$231,461

Tuscaloosa +

Homeownership Rate

North Charleston

48.5%

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

45.1%

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$313,219	$231,461	Tuscaloosa +
Homeownership Rate	48.5%	45.1%	North Charleston +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

North Charleston

398

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

400

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

North Charleston

1999

Tuscaloosa

1734

Tuscaloosa +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	398	400	North Charleston +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1999	1734	Tuscaloosa +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

35.2%

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

42.6%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

13.2%

Tuscaloosa

12.0%

Tuscaloosa +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

North Charleston

17.5%

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

21.3%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

15.3%

Tuscaloosa

11.5%

Tuscaloosa +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

19.8%

Tuscaloosa

15.1%

Tuscaloosa +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

14.3%

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

14.7%

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	35.2%	42.6%	North Charleston +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	13.2%	12.0%	Tuscaloosa +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	17.5%	21.3%	North Charleston +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	15.3%	11.5%	Tuscaloosa +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	19.8%	15.1%	Tuscaloosa +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	14.3%	14.7%	North Charleston +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

North Charleston

N/A

Tuscaloosa

65.0°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

North Charleston

N/A

Tuscaloosa

55.0 in

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	65.0°F	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	55.0 in	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

North Charleston

8.6 µg/m³

North Charleston +

Tuscaloosa

8.8 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

North Charleston

75.0%

Tuscaloosa

75.0%

Tie

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.6 µg/m³	8.8 µg/m³	North Charleston +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

North Charleston

26.8 min

Tuscaloosa

20.0 min

Tuscaloosa +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Tuscaloosa, AL	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	26.8 min	20.0 min	Tuscaloosa +

Which City is Right for You?

North Charleston leads in median household income at $62,789, while tuscaloosa offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $231,461. On public safety, North Charleston is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 400 in Tuscaloosa. North Charleston has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and North Charleston has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.6 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, North Charleston scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.2%.

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