Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Mobile
Alabama
9
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.
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $44,772 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Mobile
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Mobile
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $267k less ($158,400 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $563/mo less ($985 vs $1,548)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Meridian
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $44,772/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 2.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Median Income
$44,772
$93,296 vs $48,524/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
80% lower
146.8 vs 752.0 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
2.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Mobile
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$267k less
$158,400 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 14 and Mobile wins 9. 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 Meridian to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $158,400 median home), income ($93,296 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Mobile, AL are about 1,784 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.