Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson 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
Richardson
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $221k less ($158,400 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $740/mo less ($985 vs $1,725)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $45,838/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $45,838 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Mobile
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/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
$221k less
$158,400 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$45,838
$94,362 vs $48,524/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
80% lower
146.7 vs 752.0 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Richardson, 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 | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | RICHARDSON 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" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 12 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 11 and Richardson 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $379,800 median home), income ($48,524 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Richardson, TX are about 530 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.