Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Charlotte leads 12 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Mobile
Alabama
11
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Households earn $25,546 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($158,400 vs $312,800)
Rent averages $414/mo less ($985 vs $1,399)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Charlotte
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Charlotte by $25,546/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Median Income
$25,546
$74,070 vs $48,524/yr
Charlotte
Violent Crime
2% lower
733.2 vs 752.0 per 100k
Charlotte
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Mobile
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$154k less
$158,400 vs $312,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 186,316 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 12 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 12 and Mobile wins 11. 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 Charlotte to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $158,400 median home), income ($74,070 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Mobile, AL are about 525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.