The Tuscaloosa metro is home to 275,217 people (up 14.0% over five years), with a median household income of $59,975. Typical rent of $1,668/month works out to 33.4% of the median household income — above the 30% affordability threshold, a strain signal (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Tuscaloosa's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 29.0% |
| Manufacturing | 16.4% |
| Retail trade | 10.9% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.3% |
| Professional & management | 7.6% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 33.4% of median income leave little headroom — expect tenant price sensitivity. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Tuscaloosa market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,668/month suggests a household income around $67,000/year. The metro's median household income is $59,975.
By workforce share: Education & health care (29.0%), Manufacturing (16.4%), Retail trade (10.9%) (Census ACS 5-year).