Metro area profile · Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Tuscaloosa metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 281,850
- +2.9% since 2020
- Households
- 105,683
- Median household income
- $61,517
- +22.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $230,700
- Jobs located here
- 106,684
- Highest market score
- 81
- Insurance agencies, #32 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Tuscaloosa metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Tuscaloosa metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 281,850 people live in the Tuscaloosa metro area, in 105,683 households. Population estimates put the population change in the Tuscaloosa metro area from 2020 to 2025 at +2.9%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Tuscaloosa metro area is $61,517 a year, 24% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 22.0% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Tuscaloosa metro area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (64).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Tuscaloosa metro area are for insurance agencies (81); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (78); and house cleaning businesses (78). The Tuscaloosa metro area ranks #32 of 387 scored metro areas for insurance agencies.
The Tuscaloosa metro area takes in 4 counties: Tuscaloosa County, Pickens County, Hale County and Greene County. For its number of households, the Tuscaloosa metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (80% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (58% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Tuscaloosa metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Tuscaloosa metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 81 | #32 of 387 | 134 | 12.7 | $2M | 156 | 61 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 78 | #17 of 387 | 60 | 5.7 | $2.4M | 143 | 108 |
| House cleaning | 78 | #19 of 375 | 13 | 1.2 | $11.1M | 173 | 32 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 75 | #35 of 385 | 34 | 3.2 | $4.2M | 145 | 64 |
| Pet businesses | 74 | #33 of 387 | 69 | 6.5 | $1.2M | 142 | 37 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 73 | #38 of 386 | 23 | 2.2 | $3.7M | 147 | 12 |
| Pet stores | 71 | #45 of 382 | 14 | 1.3 | $6.2M | 136 | 5 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 70 | #35 of 387 | 52 | 4.9 | $7M | 169 | 41 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 69 | #45 of 387 | 68 | 6.4 | $5.4M | 144 | 35 |
| Electricians | 69 | #46 of 383 | 17 | 1.6 | $16.3M | 136 | 45 |
| Veterinarians | 69 | #63 of 384 | 26 | 2.5 | $3.3M | 122 | 20 |
| Auto repair shops | 68 | #65 of 387 | 181 | 17.1 | $522K | 118 | 69 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 67 | #43 of 373 | 24 | 2.3 | Index only | 159 | 5 |
| Auto repair and car care | 67 | #72 of 387 | 314 | 29.7 | $301K | 112 | 115 |
| Laundromats | 66 | #81 of 364 | 10 | 0.9 | $18.4M | 147 | 4 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 65 | #77 of 387 | 530 | 50.1 | $205K | 134 | 256 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 65 | #93 of 387 | 860 | 81.4 | $423K | 114 | 387 |
| Dry cleaners | 64 | #56 of 272 | 7 | 0.7 | $26.3M | 168 | 6 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 63 | #73 of 387 | 26 | 2.5 | $2.5M | 126 | 17 |
| Car washes and detailing | 63 | #102 of 387 | 37 | 3.5 | $2.6M | 101 | 8 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 62 | #109 of 387 | 90 | 8.5 | $1.2M | 123 | 59 |
| Home repair trades | 61 | #108 of 387 | 109 | 10.3 | $2.5M | 105 | 137 |
| Child care and preschools | 61 | #111 of 387 | 42 | 4.0 | $1M | 100 | 39 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 60 | #80 of 347 | 11 | 1.0 | $6M | 148 | 25 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 60 | #88 of 387 | 195 | 18.5 | Index only | 140 | 71 |
| Spas and skin care | 60 | #92 of 387 | 79 | 7.5 | $1.1M | 125 | 13 |
| Real estate | 60 | #95 of 387 | 263 | 24.9 | Index only | 131 | 131 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 60 | #113 of 387 | 487 | 46.1 | $747K | 113 | 128 |
| Pest control | 59 | #114 of 345 | 13 | 1.2 | $11.1M | 108 | 12 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 59 | #141 of 381 | 27 | 2.6 | $3.5M | 114 | 20 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 58 | #109 of 387 | 93 | 8.8 | $712K | 107 | 42 |
| Pizza | 57 | #129 of 387 | 50 | 4.7 | $7.3M | 143 | 220 |
| Chiropractors | 57 | #133 of 386 | 35 | 3.3 | $3.1M | 130 | 22 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 56 | #115 of 290 | 5 | 0.5 | $18.9M | 138 | 9 |
| Physical therapy | 54 | #160 of 386 | 43 | 4.1 | $2.5M | 105 | 28 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 53 | #174 of 387 | 62 | 5.9 | $4.5M | 94 | 72 |
| Roofing and gutters | 52 | #176 of 381 | 30 | 2.8 | $9.2M | 109 | 20 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 51 | #183 of 387 | 385 | 36.4 | $225K | 106 | 79 |
| Gyms | 50 | #192 of 387 | 56 | 5.3 | $1.2M | 91 | 25 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 50 | #204 of 386 | 35 | 3.3 | $3.1M | 99 | 12 |
| Hair salons | 48 | #201 of 387 | 197 | 18.6 | $440K | 102 | 47 |
| Nail salons | 47 | #220 of 387 | 48 | 4.5 | $1.8M | 108 | 14 |
| Funeral homes | 46 | #199 of 377 | 19 | 1.8 | $692K | 102 | 13 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 45 | #242 of 387 | 63 | 6.0 | $1.7M | 97 | 129 |
| Barbershops | 41 | #276 of 387 | 59 | 5.6 | $1.5M | 78 | 4 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 40 | #138 of 197 | 6 | 0.6 | $18.1M | 74 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 40 | #263 of 387 | 74 | 7.0 | $8.1M | 88 | 35 |
| Property management | 40 | #273 of 374 | 40 | 3.8 | Index only | 67 | 36 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 39 | #273 of 387 | 213 | 20.2 | $2.8M | 83 | 62 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 35 | #292 of 387 | 221 | 20.9 | $834K | 95 | 106 |
| Convenience stores | 33 | #305 of 387 | 112 | 10.6 | $5.4M | 68 | 27 |
| Gas stations | 32 | #319 of 387 | 207 | 19.6 | $1.5M | 62 | 135 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 30 | #314 of 387 | 160 | 15.1 | $2.3M | 75 | 220 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 29 | #319 of 387 | 184 | 17.4 | $1M | 79 | 96 |
| Tire shops | 25 | #341 of 386 | 56 | 5.3 | $1.7M | 67 | 27 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.4 | Index only | 142 | 3 |
Household spending in the Tuscaloosa metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $94.6M | $895 | 93 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $307.7M | $2,912 | 112 |
| Food away from home | $363.9M | $3,443 | 85 |
| Groceries | $602M | $5,697 | 90 |
| Personal care products and services | $86.8M | $821 | 82 |
| Child care and other personal services | $42.1M | $398 | 69 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $66.2M | $626 | 64 |
| Medical and dental services | $108.5M | $1,027 | 80 |
| Pets | $86.2M | $816 | 90 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $184.2M | $1,743 | 85 |
| Vehicle insurance | $262.2M | $2,481 | 127 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $277.3M | $2,624 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $144M | $1,363 | 96 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.5B | $14,113 | 85 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Tuscaloosa metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 281,850+2.9% since 2020
- Households
- 105,683
- Median age
- 36.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 63%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 3,493 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 80
- Median household income
- $61,517+22.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $84,019
- Median home value
- $230,700
- Jobs located here
- 106,684
- Daytime population
- 281,020Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Tuscaloosa metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Tuscaloosa metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Tuscaloosa metro area 4
- Tuscaloosa County, AL237,552 people
- Pickens County, AL18,721 people
- Hale County, AL14,829 people
- Greene County, AL7,424 people
Other markets based in Alabama 12
- Birmingham, AL metro area1,184,613 people
- Huntsville, AL metro area516,951 people
- Mobile, AL metro area412,590 people
- Montgomery, AL metro area386,024 people
- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL metro area246,989 people
- Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area199,825 people
- Decatur, AL metro area157,747 people
- Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL metro area153,852 people
- Dothan, AL metro area152,674 people
- Anniston-Oxford, AL metro area116,090 people
- Gadsden, AL metro area103,105 people
- Albertville, AL area99,748 people
Questions
How fast is the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Tuscaloosa metro area at 281,850 people in 2025, up 2.9% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 105,683 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 22.0%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area spend?
Households in the Tuscaloosa metro area spend about $1.5B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $602M on groceries and $363.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Tuscaloosa metro area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (64).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Tuscaloosa metro area, insurance agencies (81); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (78); and house cleaning businesses (78) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #32 of 387 scored metro areas.
How does the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Tuscaloosa metro area is $61,517, 24% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $230,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (80% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (58% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in the Tuscaloosa metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Tuscaloosa metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Alabama · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Tuscaloosa metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Tuscaloosa metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.