Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 13 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Mobile
Alabama
13
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Households earn $13,854 more per year on average
7% less violent crime than Mobile
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Mobile
Mobile, AL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Des Moines
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Des Moines by $13,854/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$13,854
$62,378 vs $48,524/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
7% lower
703.0 vs 752.0 per 100k
Des Moines
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.5% unemployment
Mobile
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$12k less
$158,400 vs $170,700
Mobile
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 30.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 186,316 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 13 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 10 and Mobile wins 13. 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 Des Moines to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $158,400 median home), income ($62,378 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Mobile, AL are about 813 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.