Overland Park KS 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)

Overland Park, KS

Kansas · Population: 143,720

  • Median HH Income$112,232
  • Median Home Price$487,466
  • Unemployment2.8%
  • Bachelor's+49.4%

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
Overland Park
143,720
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
107,699
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Overland Park
N/A
Tuscaloosa
N/A
Median Age
Overland Park
36.6
Tuscaloosa
28.2
Tuscaloosa +
Foreign Born
Overland Park
10.7%
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
4.7%
White
Overland Park
78.6%
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
49.6%
Black
Overland Park
4.9%
Tuscaloosa
42.8%
Tuscaloosa +
Asian
Overland Park
4.2%
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
2.6%
Hispanic
Overland Park
12.6%
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
5.2%
Spanish at Home
Overland Park
N/A
Tuscaloosa
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Overland Park
$112,232
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
$48,536
Per Capita Income
Overland Park
$48,655
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
$31,324
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Overland Park
$61,860
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
$51,690
Unemployment Rate
Overland Park
2.8%
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
7.0%
Poverty Rate
Overland Park
5.6%
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
23.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
Overland Park
49.4%
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
38.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Overland Park
$487,466
Tuscaloosa
$231,461
Tuscaloosa +
Homeownership Rate
Overland Park
73.7%
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
45.1%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Overland Park
449
Tuscaloosa
400
Tuscaloosa +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Overland Park
2174
Tuscaloosa
1734
Tuscaloosa +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Overland Park
30.0%
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
42.6%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Overland Park
9.2%
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
12.0%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Overland Park
12.8%
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
21.3%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Overland Park
6.2%
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
11.5%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Overland Park
16.9%
Tuscaloosa
15.1%
Tuscaloosa +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Overland Park
9.0%
Overland Park +
Tuscaloosa
14.7%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Overland Park
N/A
Tuscaloosa
65.0°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Overland Park
N/A
Tuscaloosa
55.0 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Overland Park
22.4 min
Tuscaloosa
20.0 min
Tuscaloosa +

Which City is Right for You?

Overland Park leads in median household income at $112,232, 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 449 in Overland Park. Overland Park has a lower unemployment rate at 2.8%, and Overland Park has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Overland Park scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.0%.

Compare More Cities

About Overland Park & Tuscaloosa