Uprootmap
Tuscaloosa vs Decatur
Tuscaloosa and Decatur
Photo: Dan / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Decatur are above the US rate in this release, 10.4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Tuscaloosa to Decatur
In 2022-2023, 27 households filed a move from Tuscaloosa to Decatur (about 38 people, average adjusted gross income $45,481). Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $930 in Tuscaloosa and $772 in Decatur. Tuscaloosa has a state tax on wages. Decatur has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Decatur is 86% of the national level for the same work, against 84% in Tuscaloosa.
Decatur averages 216 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 36°F. Tuscaloosa is 223 sunny days, 90°F in July, 38°F in January. Commutes average 25 minutes in Decatur and 24 in Tuscaloosa.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 27 households moved Tuscaloosa → Decatur (about 38 people, average AGI $45,481). The reverse flow is too small for the IRS to publish.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Tuscaloosa and Decatur changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 125 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,100
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,100
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
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Dig into Decatur
Questions
Is Decatur cheaper than Tuscaloosa after tax and rent?
Yes. Decatur leaves about $158 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $930 in Tuscaloosa and $772 in Decatur.
Does Decatur have state income tax?
Decatur is in Alabama, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
Did people actually move from Tuscaloosa to Decatur?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.