Charleston scores higher on the Star Score index — 86 vs 80 — driven mainly by gross yield. Charleston yields 9.9% gross on a $147,375 typical home; Tuscaloosa yields 8.4% on $238,644 (September 2026 data).
| Metric | Charleston | Tuscaloosa |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $147,375 | $238,644 |
| Typical rent | $1,210 | $1,668 |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 10 | 12 |
| Gross yield | 9.9% | 8.4% |
| Star Score | 86 | 80 |
Full profiles: Charleston · Tuscaloosa