Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Irving leads 12 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ 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.
Irving, TX
Pros
Households earn $28,162 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Mobile
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Mobile
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($158,400 vs $259,500)
Rent averages $438/mo less ($985 vs $1,423)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $28,162/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$28,162
$76,686 vs $48,524/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
63% lower
275.4 vs 752.0 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.5% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 91.7°F
Mobile
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$101k less
$158,400 vs $259,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 186,316 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 50.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 12 of 23 categories. Irving 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 Irving to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $158,400 median home), income ($76,686 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Mobile, AL are about 542 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.