Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
O'Fallon, MO
🏆 O'Fallon leads 14 of 23 categories
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
O'Fallon
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $125k less ($158,400 vs $283,600)
Rent averages $326/mo less ($985 vs $1,311)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than O'Fallon
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $56,339/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.1%)
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Households earn $56,339 more per year on average
92% less violent crime than Mobile
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Mobile
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$125k less
$158,400 vs $283,600
Mobile
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 87.5°F
O'Fallon
Median Income
$56,339
$104,863 vs $48,524/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
92% lower
59.0 vs 752.0 per 100k
O'Fallon
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.1% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | O'Fallon, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $283,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,311 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $104,863 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 3.1% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 18 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 23 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 13.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 91,825 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 80.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs O'Fallon's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 14 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 9 and O'Fallon 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 Mobile to O'Fallon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $283,600 median home), income ($48,524 vs $104,863), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and O'Fallon, MO are about 580 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.