Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316
Montgomery
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Montgomery by $5,642/yr
Montgomery, AL
Pros
21% less violent crime than Mobile
Homes cost $17k less ($141,900 vs $158,400)
Households earn $5,642 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Median Income
$5,642
$54,166 vs $48,524/yr
Montgomery
Violent Crime
21% lower
594.6 vs 752.0 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$17k less
$141,900 vs $158,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 90.8 |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $54,166 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 54.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 11 and Montgomery 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 Mobile to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $141,900 median home), income ($48,524 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Montgomery, AL are about 159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.