Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 15 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5
Median Household Income
$82,547 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
114,237
Mobile
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
Households earn $34,023 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Mobile
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($158,400 vs $210,800)
Rent averages $198/mo less ($985 vs $1,183)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 49°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Broken Arrow by $34,023/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Median Income
$34,023
$82,547 vs $48,524/yr
Broken Arrow
Violent Crime
70% lower
223.1 vs 752.0 per 100k
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 89.5 on the COL index
Mobile
Median Home Value
$52k less
$158,400 vs $210,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 15 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow wins 15 and Mobile wins 8. 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 Broken Arrow to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $158,400 median home), income ($82,547 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Mobile, AL are about 578 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.