Tuscaloosa and Northport side by side: 51.5 vs 38.5 mills, city vs county schools, Zillow home values, Census income and commute, and city services.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Sources: the Tuscaloosa County Tax Assessor and Collector’s millage chart current as of Oct. 1, 2026; the Alabama State Department of Education’s state report card for 2025; Zillow Research city values for September 2026; the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates (QuickFacts for Tuscaloosa and Northport); and the City of Tuscaloosa and City of Northport websites.
Northport is Tuscaloosa’s only neighboring city of more than 5,000 people within 15 miles, on the Census Bureau’s place list. It sits about four miles north of downtown Tuscaloosa across the Black Warrior River, and the two share a county, a county tax collector and McFarland Boulevard. They differ on the tax rate, the school district and who picks up the trash. Every figure below is from the official source named, the same year for both cities.
Who to call
- City of Tuscaloosa: Tuscaloosa 311, dial 311 or 205-248-5311; City Hall, 2201 University Blvd.
- City of Northport: 205-339-7000; City Hall, 3500 McFarland Blvd.
- Property tax bills for both: Tuscaloosa County Tax Collector, 205-464-8230
Property taxes
Both cities’ rates are on the county’s millage chart, current as of Oct. 1, 2026. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value.
| Levy | Tuscaloosa | Northport |
|---|---|---|
| State (general, soldier, school) | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Tuscaloosa County (general, roads and bridges) | 10.5 | 10.5 |
| Countywide school tax | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| School district levy | 15.5 (District 3) | 4.5 (District 1) |
| City | 13.5 | 11.5 |
| Total mills | 51.5 | 38.5 |
An owner-occupied home is assessed at 10% of its appraised value, so a home the assessor values at $200,000 has an assessed value of $20,000. At these rates that works out to $1,030 a year inside Tuscaloosa and $770 inside Northport, before any homestead exemption. Neither city publishes its own homestead exemption; exemptions are filed with the Tuscaloosa County Tax Assessor, 205-464-8240. More in our property taxes guide.
Tax rate chart
Schools
The two cities are in different school districts. Tuscaloosa City Schools’ boundaries have followed the city limits since a November 2024 local amendment, its 2026-27 zone map says. Northport is served by the Tuscaloosa County School System.
| High school | District | Address | 2025 score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northridge High | Tuscaloosa City | 2901 Northridge Road, Tuscaloosa | 84 (B) |
| Paul W. Bryant High | Tuscaloosa City | 6315 Mary Harmon Bryant Drive, Tuscaloosa | 74 (C) |
| Central High | Tuscaloosa City | 905 15th St., Tuscaloosa | 69 (D) |
| Northside High | Tuscaloosa County | 19230 Northside Parkway, Northport | 88 (B) |
| Tuscaloosa County High | Tuscaloosa County | 12500 Wildcat Drive, Northport | 72 (C) |
Scores are each school’s 2025 overall score, for the 2024-25 school year, on the Alabama State Department of Education’s state report card. The two county schools are the ones with Northport addresses; which one serves a given Northport home depends on the county’s zones, so ask the county system at 205-758-0411. More in our schools guide.
Home values
| City | September 2026 | September 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa | $243,681 | $241,639 | Up 0.8% |
| Northport | $287,487 | $281,754 | Up 2.0% |
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, city level, all homes, middle tier, smoothed and seasonally adjusted. It is a modeled typical value for the middle third of homes, not a sale price, and Zillow revises past months.
Home value chart
Population, income and commute (Census)
| Measure | Tuscaloosa | Northport |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 111,038 | 31,218 |
| Median household income | $51,464 | $80,913 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $255,500 | $282,600 |
| Homes occupied by their owners | 43% | 62% |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.6 minutes | 21.7 minutes |
Source: Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates (tables B01003, B19013, B25077 and B25003 and subject table S0801), the same vintage for both cities. The Census home value is what owners estimate their homes are worth, so it differs from Zillow’s index.
City services
| Service | Tuscaloosa | Northport |
|---|---|---|
| Police | Tuscaloosa Police Department | Northport Police Department |
| Fire and rescue | City of Tuscaloosa fire department | Northport Fire Rescue |
| Garbage and trash | City Environmental Services; garbage, trash and recycling once a week on the same day (details) | City Public Works; garbage and trash once a week on the same day, Monday through Thursday (details) |
| Carts at the curb | By 6 a.m. on collection day | By 6 a.m. on collection day |
| Schools | Tuscaloosa City Schools | Tuscaloosa County School System |
| Parks | City parks and PARA | City parks and PARA |
The Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority (PARA) runs parks in both cities, including Sokol Park South in Northport and Bowers Park in Tuscaloosa. See our trash and recycling guide and parks and trails guide.
How to check an address
- Which city is it in? The City of Tuscaloosa’s city limits map, or the parcel’s tax district on the Tuscaloosa County Tax Assessor record. Some addresses with a Tuscaloosa or Northport mailing address are in unincorporated Tuscaloosa County.
- Which school? Inside Tuscaloosa city limits, the district’s zone lookup or 205-759-3700; in Northport or the county, the Tuscaloosa County School System, 205-758-0411.
- What will the tax bill be? Multiply the assessed value (10% of appraised value for a home you live in) by the total mills above and divide by 1,000, then ask the Tax Assessor, 205-464-8240, about exemptions. Our property taxes guide walks through a bill.
Neighborhood by neighborhood, see our Tuscaloosa neighborhoods guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are property taxes lower in Northport or Tuscaloosa?
The total rate inside Northport is 38.5 mills and inside Tuscaloosa 51.5 mills, on the Tuscaloosa County millage chart current as of Oct. 1, 2026. The difference is mostly the school district levy: 4.5 mills in Northport’s district and 15.5 in Tuscaloosa’s.
What school district is Northport in?
Northport homes are served by the Tuscaloosa County School System. Homes inside Tuscaloosa city limits are served by Tuscaloosa City Schools, whose boundaries have followed the city limits since a November 2024 local amendment.
Is Northport part of Tuscaloosa?
No. Northport is a separate city about four miles north of downtown Tuscaloosa across the Black Warrior River, with its own City Council, police department, fire department and trash service. Both are in Tuscaloosa County.
What is the typical home value in Northport compared with Tuscaloosa?
The Zillow Home Value Index was $287,487 for Northport and $243,681 for Tuscaloosa in September 2026. These are modeled typical values for the middle third of homes, not sale prices.
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