Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Concord leads 14 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Mobile
Alabama
9
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.
Concord, NC
Pros
Households earn $34,956 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Mobile
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Mobile
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($158,400 vs $288,100)
Rent averages $274/mo less ($985 vs $1,259)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 53°F
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $34,956/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
Concord
Median Income
$34,956
$83,480 vs $48,524/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
79% lower
159.0 vs 752.0 per 100k
Concord
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
$130k less
$158,400 vs $288,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord'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, Concord leads 14 of 23 categories. Concord wins 14 and Mobile wins 9. 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 Concord to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $158,400 median home), income ($83,480 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Mobile, AL are about 541 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.