Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Gilbert leads 17 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Mobile
Alabama
6
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.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $66,655 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Mobile
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Mobile
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $296k less ($158,400 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $854/mo less ($985 vs $1,839)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 104°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $66,655/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$66,655
$115,179 vs $48,524/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
82% lower
132.2 vs 752.0 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.5% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 91.7°F
Mobile
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$296k less
$158,400 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 62.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 186,316 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 17 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 17 and Mobile wins 6. 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 Gilbert to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $158,400 median home), income ($115,179 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Mobile, AL are about 1,394 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.