Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 16 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316
Plano
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $254k less ($158,400 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $714/mo less ($985 vs $1,699)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $57,155/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $57,155 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Mobile
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Mobile
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$254k less
$158,400 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$57,155
$105,679 vs $48,524/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
80% lower
151.6 vs 752.0 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 16 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 7 and Plano wins 16. 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $412,500 median home), income ($48,524 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Plano, TX are about 533 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.