Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 18 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Mobile
Alabama
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,316
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $35k less ($123,000 vs $158,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Mobile by $6,060/yr
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.5%)
Mobile, AL
Pros
40% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.5%)
Households earn $6,060 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 55°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$35k less
$123,000 vs $158,400
Mobile
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Income
$6,060
$48,524 vs $42,464/yr
Mobile
Violent Crime
40% lower
752.0 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Mobile
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $158,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $48,524 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 30.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 186,316 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 50.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 18 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 5 and Mobile wins 18. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Birmingham to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $158,400 median home), income ($42,464 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Mobile, AL are about 212 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.