Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Mobile
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $40,688 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Mobile
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Mobile
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $527k less ($158,400 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $996/mo less ($985 vs $1,981)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $40,688/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$40,688
$89,212 vs $48,524/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
17% lower
627.9 vs 752.0 per 100k
Mobile
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$527k less
$158,400 vs $684,900
Mobile
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 186,316 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 50.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and Mobile wins 14. 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 Boston to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $158,400 median home), income ($89,212 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Mobile, AL are about 1,241 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.