Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 15 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316
Overland Park
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($158,400 vs $361,800)
Rent averages $393/mo less ($985 vs $1,378)
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 Overland Park
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $52,352/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.2%)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Households earn $52,352 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Mobile
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Higher rents — median is $1,378/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Mobile
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$203k less
$158,400 vs $361,800
Mobile
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 88.2°F
Overland Park
Median Income
$52,352
$100,876 vs $48,524/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
75% lower
184.4 vs 752.0 per 100k
Overland Park
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $361,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,378⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 15 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 8 and Overland Park wins 15. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $361,800 median home), income ($48,524 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Overland Park, KS are about 680 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.