Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lynn, MA
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories
Lynn
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
100,653
Mobile
Alabama
14
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.
Lynn, MA
Pros
Households earn $21,522 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than Mobile
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,800
Higher rents — median is $1,511/mo
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Mobile
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($158,400 vs $442,800)
Rent averages $526/mo less ($985 vs $1,511)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Lynn
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Lynn by $21,522/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lynn
Median Income
$21,522
$70,046 vs $48,524/yr
Lynn
Violent Crime
24% lower
574.6 vs 752.0 per 100k
Lynn
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Mobile
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$284k less
$158,400 vs $442,800
Mobile
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lynn, MA | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $442,800⚠ High | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,511⚠ High | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,046 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.9% | 30.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.2% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lynn | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.1°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.1" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,653 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.6% | 50.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lynn's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories. Lynn wins 9 and Mobile wins 14. 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 Lynn to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($442,800 vs $158,400 median home), income ($70,046 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lynn, MA and Mobile, AL are about 1,249 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.