Tuscaloosa, Alabama Income Statistics
Tuscaloosa Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Tuscaloosa Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Tuscaloosa | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $49,249 | $64,544 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,759 | $52,756 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.1% | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.4% | 9.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.4% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Tuscaloosa is about 24% lower than in Alabama. Income has been growing slower in Tuscaloosa (3.1%/yr) than in Alabama (4.7%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Tuscaloosa earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Alabama average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Tuscaloosa, Alabama grew by 74.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $49,249 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Tuscaloosa
| Metric | Tuscaloosa | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.624 | 0.560 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,454 | $62,840 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,600 | $47,036 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.9% | 25.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Tuscaloosa, it is 0.624, higher than Alabama's 0.560, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $379,890 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Tuscaloosa, Alabama has narrowed from about 23% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2023, and was narrowest at 14% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,971 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Tuscaloosa | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.3% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 3,906 people are unemployed in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The average commute time in Tuscaloosa is 16 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Alabama.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
The unemployment rate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama has stayed about flat at 8.1% since 2011. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.4% in 2014 and fell as low as 6.9% in 2021.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Tuscaloosa, Alabama has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Alabama, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
How Rich Is Tuscaloosa, Alabama?
Tuscaloosa has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $49,249, about 24% lower than the Alabama average of $64,544.
How fast is household income rising in Tuscaloosa, Alabama?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Tuscaloosa, Alabama rose 75%, from $28,177 to $49,249. Over the same years, income here outpaced Alabama as a whole: +75% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Tuscaloosa in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Tuscaloosa, Alabama was $46,536, up 2% from $45,525 in 2022. The Alabama median that year was $62,326.
What was the median household income in Tuscaloosa in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Tuscaloosa, Alabama was $43,219. By 2024 it had risen 14% to $49,249.
How strong is the job market in Tuscaloosa, Alabama?
Unemployment in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is 8.1%, well above the Alabama rate of 4.7%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Tuscaloosa, Alabama?
The Gini coefficient in Tuscaloosa is 0.624. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Tuscaloosa, Alabama?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Tuscaloosa, Alabama has narrowed from about 23% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2023, and was narrowest at 14% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,971 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →