Last updated: October 2026 · By Byron Bennett, The Williams Group at Keller Williams Realty
QUICK SUMMARY
The short answer: in Tuscaloosa County, $300,000 buys a typical home and $400,000 buys an above-average one, but where you shop changes everything. Over the 12 months ending August 31, 2026, the countywide median sale price in the West Alabama MLS was $291,198, and three of every four homes sold for $410,000 or less. At roughly the county median of $173 per square foot, $300,000 works out to about 1,700 square feet and $400,000 to about 2,300. In Northport, $300,000 is a middle-of-the-market house; north of the river in Tuscaloosa, even $400,000 sits in the bottom quarter of sales.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Countywide, $300,000 is right at the median; $400,000 is near the top quarter (75th percentile: $410,000). 2. North of the river (MLS Area 01) is the most expensive part of the county: median $559,000, and a quarter of sales were under $416,000. 3. In the Northport city MLS area (Area 06), the median was $291,500; $400,000 is above three-quarters of Northport sales. 4. The Lake Tuscaloosa / North River / north Northport area (Area 08) had a median of $380,000, so $400,000 is a middle-of-the-market budget there. 5. In eastern and southern Tuscaloosa County, $300,000 is already a top-quarter budget and buys roughly 1,900 to 2,000 square feet.
What does the data actually show?
These figures come from a full pull of residential closings in the West Alabama MLS by The Williams Group at Keller Williams Realty: 2,744 sales from September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026 across MLS Areas 01 through 11 (excluding Area 07, which is outside Tuscaloosa County). Medians and quartiles were calculated from every row, not a sample. MLS areas are not neighborhood names, so we translate them below.
The “about this many square feet” column is simple division: budget divided by the area’s median price per square foot. Treat it as a rough guide. Larger homes usually sell for less per foot, and age, lot size, condition and the specific street all move the number.
| MLS area (what it covers) | Median sale | Middle half of sales | Median $/sq ft | $300K buys about | $400K buys about |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01: Tuscaloosa city, north of the Black Warrior River | $559,000 | $416,000 – $799,900 | $206 | 1,460 sq ft | 1,940 sq ft |
| 02: Central Tuscaloosa (downtown, campus, Midtown) – condos and units | $292,500 | $234,900 – $462,500 | $268 | 1,120 sq ft | 1,490 sq ft |
| 02: Central Tuscaloosa – houses only | $394,450 | $207,750 – $749,925 | $191 | 1,570 sq ft | 2,090 sq ft |
| 03: East Tuscaloosa city (Alberta, Woodland Forrest, Skyland east) | $218,200 | $173,000 – $274,925 | $144 | 2,080 sq ft | 2,780 sq ft |
| 05: Southeast Tuscaloosa city | $227,000 | $184,425 – $262,000 | $139 | 2,160 sq ft | 2,880 sq ft |
| 06: Northport city | $291,500 | $240,000 – $345,000 | $170 | 1,760 sq ft | 2,350 sq ft |
| 08: North county (Lake Tuscaloosa, North River, north Northport) | $380,000 | $300,000 – $513,825 | $193 | 1,550 sq ft | 2,070 sq ft |
| 09: West county (Coker, Buhl, Fosters, Ralph) | $259,900 | $185,000 – $304,500 | $150 | 2,000 sq ft | 2,670 sq ft |
| 10: East county (Cottondale, Brookwood, Vance, Coaling, Lake View) | $267,400 | $201,975 – $295,875 | $153 | 1,960 sq ft | 2,610 sq ft |
| 11: South county (Taylorville, Hillcrest, Duncanville side) | $270,000 | $239,900 – $320,038 | $161 | 1,860 sq ft | 2,480 sq ft |
| All Tuscaloosa County areas | $291,198 | $230,000 – $410,000 | $173 | 1,730 sq ft | 2,310 sq ft |
Source: West Alabama MLS, residential closings 9/1/2025–8/31/2026, pulled 9/8/2026 by The Williams Group. “Middle half” is the 25th to 75th percentile. Square-foot columns are our arithmetic and are estimates. Area 04 (West Tuscaloosa city, 39 sales, median $139,000) is not shown because the sample is small.
What does $300,000 buy in Tuscaloosa County?
$300,000 is the middle of the Tuscaloosa County market. It is a strong budget in some parts of the county and a stretch in others.
Northport city area (MLS Area 06): almost exactly the median ($291,500), with a typical house around 1,750 square feet at the area’s $170 per foot. Northport sold quickly over the year, with a median of 22 days on market. Our Northport vs. Tuscaloosa comparison covers taxes, schools and commutes.
East and southeast Tuscaloosa city: $300,000 is above three-quarters of sales in both areas, which typically means more space for the money, often 2,000 square feet or more.
Eastern, southern and western Tuscaloosa County: $300,000 is at or above the 75th percentile in Cottondale, Brookwood, Vance and Coaling (Area 10), close to it in the south-county area, and just under it in Coker and the west county. These areas sold more slowly, with median days on market in the mid-30s. Buyers there should also read up on septic and well inspections and check whether a USDA Rural Development loan applies.
Near campus: $300,000 is right at the median for a condo or unit in Central Tuscaloosa ($292,500), which is why so many UA parents shop at this price. See our UA parent buyer guide.
North of the river: $300,000 is below the 25th percentile ($416,000), so options are limited and competitive.
Want to see what is actually for sale at your budget this week? Call or text 205-292-2108 and our West Alabama team will pull it for you.
What does $400,000 buy in Tuscaloosa County?
$400,000 is near the top quarter of the county, so it opens up most areas, with one big exception.
Lake Tuscaloosa, North River and north Northport (Area 08): $400,000 lands just above the area median of $380,000, which puts roughly half of the area’s past-year sales in reach. Waterfront homes are a different market; our Lake Tuscaloosa guide explains why.
Northport city area (MLS Area 06): above three-quarters of sales ($345,000 was the 75th percentile), which works out to roughly 2,300 square feet at the area’s median price per foot.
Central Tuscaloosa houses: right around the median house price of $394,450, though prices there range widely (the middle half sold between $207,750 and $749,925).
North of the river: still under the 25th percentile. If this is the area you want, plan on the low $400,000s as a realistic starting point based on the past year of sales.
What else changes the budget besides the price?
Property taxes differ inside and outside the cities of Tuscaloosa and Northport; our Tuscaloosa and Northport property tax breakdown shows the rates. Insurance, HOA dues and whether a home is on sewer or septic also shift the monthly cost. To turn a price into a payment, start with our Alabama affordability guide, and for the latest monthly numbers see our September 2026 Tuscaloosa County housing market report.
LOOKING IN BIRMINGHAM?
We ran the same budget question for the Over the Mountain suburbs: what $500,000 buys in Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood and Mountain Brook, by city and school zone.
HOW FAST EACH AREA SELLS
Prices are only half the story. See how long it takes to sell a house in each part of Tuscaloosa County, from 17 days in West Tuscaloosa to 63 in Moundville.
Local TWG perspective
One of the most common questions relocating buyers ask us is some version of “Is my budget enough?” The honest answer is that it depends less on the number and more on the map. The same $350,000 falls in the bottom quarter of sales north of the river, buys a comfortable house in Northport and is a top-tier budget in Cottondale or Vance. That is why The Williams Group starts every search by agreeing on two or three areas first, then sets price expectations from the area’s actual sales rather than a countywide average. If you are moving here for work, our Moving to Tuscaloosa and Moving to Northport guides add schools, utilities and commutes; buyers headed to the Mercedes plant should also see where Mercedes employees live.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median home price in Tuscaloosa County in 2026?
In the West Alabama MLS, the median sale price for residential closings across Tuscaloosa County from September 2025 through August 2026 was $291,198. A quarter of homes sold under $230,000 and a quarter sold above $410,000.
Is $300,000 enough to buy a house in Tuscaloosa?
Yes, in most of the county. $300,000 is at the countywide median and at the Northport median, and it is a top-quarter budget in east Tuscaloosa and much of eastern and southern Tuscaloosa County. North of the river in Tuscaloosa, it is below the 25th percentile.
What is the most expensive part of Tuscaloosa County?
North of the Black Warrior River inside the city of Tuscaloosa (MLS Area 01), where the median sale price was $559,000 over the 12 months ending August 2026.
Is Northport cheaper than Tuscaloosa?
It depends on the comparison. Northport city’s median ($291,500) is close to the countywide median and well below north-of-the-river Tuscaloosa, but above east Tuscaloosa’s $218,200. Price per square foot in Northport ($170) is close to the county median ($173).
If you want this broken down for the exact neighborhoods you are considering, The Williams Group can pull current listings and recent sales for your price range.
What will your budget buy in West Alabama?
Tell us your price range and the areas you like, and we will show you what has actually sold there.
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