Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland 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
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $365k less ($158,400 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $545/mo less ($985 vs $1,530)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $37,352/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.6%)
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $37,352 more per year on average
4% less violent crime than Mobile
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Mobile
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$365k less
$158,400 vs $523,100
Mobile
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$37,352
$85,876 vs $48,524/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
4% lower
720.1 vs 752.0 per 100k
Portland
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 44.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 11 and Portland 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $523,100 median home), income ($48,524 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Portland, OR are about 2,118 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.