Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 12 of 22 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$48,897 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Mobile
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.5%)
Mobile, AL
Pros
50% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Violent Crime
50% lower
752.0 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Mobile
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $158,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $985 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 30.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mobile leads 12 of 22 categories. Macon-Bibb County wins 10 and Mobile wins 12. 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 Macon-Bibb County to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $158,400 median home), income ($48,897 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Mobile, AL are about 298 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.