St. Petersburg FL 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)
St. Petersburg, FL
Florida · Population: 260,646
- Median HH Income$73,118
- Median Home Price$331,500
- Unemployment4.9%
- Bachelor's+41.3%
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
St. Petersburg
260,646
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
107,699
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
St. Petersburg
N/A
Tuscaloosa
N/A
Median Age
St. Petersburg
43.1
Tuscaloosa
28.2
Tuscaloosa +
Foreign Born
St. Petersburg
10.1%
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
4.7%
White
St. Petersburg
66.2%
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
49.6%
Black
St. Petersburg
19.4%
Tuscaloosa
42.8%
Tuscaloosa +
Asian
St. Petersburg
3.1%
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
2.6%
Hispanic
St. Petersburg
9.3%
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
5.2%
Spanish at Home
St. Petersburg
N/A
Tuscaloosa
N/A
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tuscaloosa, AL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 260,646 | 107,699 | St. Petersburg + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 28.2 | Tuscaloosa + |
| Foreign Born | 10.1% | 4.7% | St. Petersburg + |
| White | 66.2% | 49.6% | St. Petersburg + |
| Black | 19.4% | 42.8% | Tuscaloosa + |
| Asian | 3.1% | 2.6% | St. Petersburg + |
| Hispanic | 9.3% | 5.2% | St. Petersburg + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
St. Petersburg
$73,118
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
$48,536
Per Capita Income
St. Petersburg
$49,823
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
$31,324
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
St. Petersburg
$65,328
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
$51,690
Unemployment Rate
St. Petersburg
4.9%
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
7.0%
Poverty Rate
St. Petersburg
11.7%
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
23.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
St. Petersburg
41.3%
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
38.1%
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tuscaloosa, AL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $73,118 | $48,536 | St. Petersburg + |
| Per Capita Income | $49,823 | $31,324 | St. Petersburg + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $65,328 | $51,690 | St. Petersburg + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 7.0% | St. Petersburg + |
| Poverty Rate | 11.7% | 23.8% | St. Petersburg + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 41.3% | 38.1% | St. Petersburg + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
St. Petersburg
$331,500
Tuscaloosa
$231,461
Tuscaloosa +
Homeownership Rate
St. Petersburg
63.0%
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
45.1%
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tuscaloosa, AL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $331,500 | $231,461 | Tuscaloosa + |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% | 45.1% | St. Petersburg + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
324
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
400
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
1453
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
1734
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tuscaloosa, AL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 324 | 400 | St. Petersburg + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1453 | 1734 | St. Petersburg + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
32.7%
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
42.6%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
12.2%
Tuscaloosa
12.0%
Tuscaloosa +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
St. Petersburg
16.6%
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
21.3%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
11.1%
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
11.5%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
16.6%
Tuscaloosa
15.1%
Tuscaloosa +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
12.4%
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
14.7%
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tuscaloosa, AL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 32.7% | 42.6% | St. Petersburg + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.2% | 12.0% | Tuscaloosa + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.6% | 21.3% | St. Petersburg + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 11.1% | 11.5% | St. Petersburg + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.6% | 15.1% | Tuscaloosa + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.4% | 14.7% | St. Petersburg + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Petersburg
N/A
Tuscaloosa
65.0°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Petersburg
N/A
Tuscaloosa
55.0 in
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | 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.)
St. Petersburg
7.2 µg/m³
St. Petersburg +
Tuscaloosa
8.8 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
St. Petersburg
75.0%
Tuscaloosa
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tuscaloosa, AL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 8.8 µg/m³ | St. Petersburg + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
St. Petersburg
26.8 min
Tuscaloosa
20.0 min
Tuscaloosa +
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tuscaloosa, AL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 26.8 min | 20.0 min | Tuscaloosa + |
Which City is Right for You?
St. Petersburg leads in median household income at $73,118, while tuscaloosa offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $231,461. On public safety, St. Petersburg is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 400 in Tuscaloosa. St. Petersburg has a lower unemployment rate at 4.9%, and St. Petersburg has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, St. Petersburg scores better with a lower obesity rate of 32.7%.
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