Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Clearwater leads 15 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Mobile
Alabama
7
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.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
47% less violent crime than Mobile
Households earn $10,834 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 62°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Mobile
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($158,400 vs $287,900)
Rent averages $404/mo less ($985 vs $1,389)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Clearwater by $10,834/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Income
$10,834
$59,358 vs $48,524/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
47% lower
395.5 vs 752.0 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Mobile
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$130k less
$158,400 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 62.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 16.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 15 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 15 and Mobile wins 7. 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 Clearwater to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $158,400 median home), income ($59,358 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Mobile, AL are about 371 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.