Tuscaloosa city, Alabama Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Tuscaloosa city is a major urban center located in Alabama. The total population is 107,699. It ranks as the 5th most populous out of 589 cities and towns in Alabama.

Age Demographics

The median age in Tuscaloosa city is 28.2 years. This is 28% lower than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Tuscaloosa city is $48,536. This is 22% lower than the state median of $62,027. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 38% lower. The poverty rate stands at 23.8%. This is 52% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.0%. This is 46% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $236,600. Housing costs are 21% higher than the state median of $195,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.9x. 45.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 36% lower than the state average of 69.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Tuscaloosa city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 47.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 42.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (42.7% vs 25.9%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (2.5% vs 1.4%).

Education

38.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Tuscaloosa city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 27.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.3%. Notably, 16.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Tuscaloosa city, Alabama is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Alabama state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 589 Census-designated places in Alabama. For official data, visit data.census.gov.