City · Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa, city, in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Tuscaloosa had 114,316 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 13.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 99,600 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 111,038 (±118). GEOID 0177256.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
114,316
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 99,600 · ACS 2020-2024: 111,038 ±118
Median household income
$51,464
±$2,918 (90% margin)
Alabama: $63,999
Median home value
$255,500
±$15,123 (90% margin)
Alabama: $209,900
Median gross rent
$1,055
±$26 (90% margin)
Alabama: $1,007
Where is Tuscaloosa and what county is it in?
Tuscaloosa is a city in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It covers 62.5 square miles of land, 1,593 residents per square mile in 2020.
Tuscaloosa is in the Tuscaloosa, AL metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 4 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Tuscaloosa, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 114,316 people lived in Tuscaloosa on July 1, 2025, up 13.2% since 2020, faster than Alabama (+3.3%). The 2020 Census counted 99,600 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 111,038 (±118).
The yearly series starts from the Census Bureau's July 2020 estimate, 105,564, which differs from its April 2020 base of 101,001 (in 2020 the estimates dipped in many college and military towns), so the first step is large; the change since 2020 above is measured from the April base.
| Measure | Tuscaloosa | Tuscaloosa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 111,038 ±118 | 237,552 | +11,648 |
| Households | 42,257 ±894 | 90,052 | +6,993 |
| Average household size | 2.30 ±0.05 | 2.47 | −0.25 |
| Housing units | 52,122 ±802 | 104,290 | +3,950 |
Tuscaloosa's population since 2000
From 77,906 in 2000 to 114,316 in 2025: up 46.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Tuscaloosa as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Tuscaloosa?
The median resident of Tuscaloosa is 27.2 years old; 17.4% are under 18 and 13.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 48.8%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 40.4%. 5.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Tuscaloosa | Tuscaloosa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.2 ±1.0 | 32.8 | −2.1 |
| Under 18 years | 17.4% ±1.0 pts | 20.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.0% ±0.7 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Male | 47.6% ±0.8 pts | 48.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.7% ±0.9 pts | 5.6% | +2.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 48.8% ±1.5 pts | 58.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 40.4% ±1.5 pts | 30.8% | −3.5 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.5% ±0.4 pts | 1.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±0.5 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.7% ±0.6 pts | 4.7% | +1.1 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.4% ±0.9 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.0% ±0.7 pts | 6.2% | – |
| With a disability | 11.3% ±1.0 pts | 13.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.4% ±1.0 pts | 6.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.6% ±1.0 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 39.4% ±2.0 pts | 32.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 18.5% ±1.4 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 72.3% ±1.9 pts | 82.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 6.6% ±1.0 pts | 3.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Tuscaloosa earn?
Half of Tuscaloosa's 42,257 households earn less than $51,464 a year (±$2,918), against $66,231 in Tuscaloosa County and $63,999 in Alabama. In 2015-2019 the median was $55,711 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $4,247 after inflation. 25.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Tuscaloosa | Tuscaloosa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,464 ±$2,918 | $66,231 | −$4,247 |
| Mean household income | $78,633 ±$3,097 | $87,929 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,728 ±$1,361 | $35,007 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 25.1% ±2.2 pts | 16.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 23.6% ±5.5 pts | 19.4% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.7% ±1.7 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.4% ±1.0 pts | 95.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.6% ±1.7 pts | 88.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Tuscaloosa?
Owners occupy 42.9% of Tuscaloosa's occupied homes and renters 57.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $255,500 by its owner (±$15,123). The median renter pays $1,055 a month including utilities, and 47.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tuscaloosa | Tuscaloosa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $255,500 ±$15,123 | $248,700 | +$35,329 |
| Median gross rent | $1,055 ±$26 | $1,037 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.2% ±3.3 pts | 42.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,702 ±$63 | $1,559 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 42.9% ±2.1 pts | 61.4% | −5.5 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 57.1% ±2.1 pts | 38.6% | – |
| Housing units | 52,122 ±802 | 104,290 | +3,950 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6% ±1.0 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.4% ±1.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 49.3% ±1.8 pts | 61.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.3% ±0.4 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.0% ±0.3 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 19.4% ±1.4 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.1% ±0.7 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.6% ±1.6 pts | 5.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Tuscaloosa building?
Builders took permits for 427 new housing units in Tuscaloosa in 2025 (312 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 2 of 12 months), 3.7 per 1,000 residents against 3.7 across Alabama.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Tuscaloosa work and get to work?
75.1% of Tuscaloosa's workers drive alone and 8.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.7%.
| Measure | Tuscaloosa | Tuscaloosa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.4% ±1.7 pts | 62.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.7% ±1.3 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.1% ±2.1 pts | 78.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.1% ±1.3 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.3% ±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 4.3% ±1.0 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.2% ±1.4 pts | 7.4% | +4.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.6 min ±1.2 | 23.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Tuscaloosa?
31 census tracts lie mostly in Tuscaloosa, and 17 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $19,500 (Tract 119.02) to $140,485 (Tract 101.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 112Tuscaloosa County | 11,869 | $18,839 |
| Tract 114.01Tuscaloosa County | 4,600 | $24,394 |
| Tract 121.01Tuscaloosa County | 4,444 | $49,444 |
| Tract 123.06Tuscaloosa County | 4,842 | $53,765 |
| Tract 116Tuscaloosa County | 4,232 | $38,828 |
| Tract 104.05Tuscaloosa County | 5,465 | $129,792 |
| Tract 124.08Tuscaloosa County | 3,724 | $38,309 |
| Tract 104.06Tuscaloosa County | 5,074 | $137,313 |
| Tract 127Tuscaloosa County | 5,150 | $52,122 |
| Tract 123.05Tuscaloosa County | 5,378 | $73,089 |
| Tract 108.02Tuscaloosa County | 5,159 | $82,321 |
| Tract 114.02Tuscaloosa County | 3,079 | $19,620 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Tuscaloosa) · Census block assignment files
How does Tuscaloosa compare with other places in Alabama?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Tuscaloosa is the 276th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 5th-most populous of 463 in Alabama.
Tuscaloosa ranks 183rd of 305 places in Alabama with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 5th | 463 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 31st | 257 |
| Residents per square mile | 17th | 311 |
| Median household income | 183rd | 305 |
| Per capita income | 138th | 311 |
| Median home value | 54th | 304 |
| Median gross rent | 80th | 274 |
| Poverty rate | 68th | 258 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37th | 295 |
| Median age | 300th | 309 |
| Owner-occupied share | 305th | 310 |
| Work from home | 68th | 138 |
| Travel time to work | 285th | 310 |
Tuscaloosa's figures with every place in Alabama (CSV)
Every place in Alabama, sortable · Compare Tuscaloosa with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Tuscaloosa?
1 of the 57 figures for Tuscaloosa on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Tuscaloosa are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Tuscaloosa.