Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Mobile leads 16 of 22 categories
Mobile
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($158,400 vs $243,300)
Rent averages $303/mo less ($985 vs $1,288)
7% less violent crime than North Charleston
9% cheaper overall cost of living than North Charleston
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
Median income trails North Charleston by $10,010/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.3%)
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $10,010 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Mobile
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Violent Crime
7% lower
752.0 vs 810.5 per 100k
Mobile
Median Home Value
$85k less
$158,400 vs $243,300
North Charleston
Median Income
$10,010
$58,534 vs $48,524/yr
North Charleston
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.2 |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,288 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $58,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 53.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mobile leads 16 of 22 categories. Mobile wins 16 and North Charleston wins 6. 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 North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $243,300 median home), income ($48,524 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and North Charleston, SC are about 497 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.