Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo 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 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $233k less ($158,400 vs $391,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 41°F
Rent averages $104/mo less ($985 vs $1,089)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Provo by $9,419/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.4%)
Provo, UT
Pros
73% less violent crime than Mobile
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $9,419 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Mobile
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$233k less
$158,400 vs $391,500
Provo
Median Income
$9,419
$57,943 vs $48,524/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
73% lower
206.6 vs 752.0 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,089 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $57,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 12 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 11 and Provo 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $391,500 median home), income ($48,524 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Provo, UT are about 1,475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.