Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 12 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025 ✓ 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.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
36% less violent crime than Mobile
Households earn $19,350 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Mobile
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($158,400 vs $236,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 50°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntsville
Cons
Median income trails Huntsville by $19,350/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Median Income
$19,350
$67,874 vs $48,524/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
36% lower
483.2 vs 752.0 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Mobile
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$78k less
$158,400 vs $236,300
Mobile
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 186,316 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 12 of 23 categories. Huntsville 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 Huntsville to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $158,400 median home), income ($67,874 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Mobile, AL are about 298 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.