Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Riverview, FL
🏆 Riverview leads 13 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Riverview
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,383 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
102,467
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($158,400 vs $292,700)
Rent averages $772/mo less ($985 vs $1,757)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverview
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Riverview by $38,859/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.6%)
Riverview, FL
Pros
Households earn $38,859 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Mobile
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 62°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,757/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Mobile
Longer commutes — 34.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$134k less
$158,400 vs $292,700
Riverview
Median Income
$38,859
$87,383 vs $48,524/yr
Riverview
Violent Crime
83% lower
131.1 vs 752.0 per 100k
Riverview
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Riverview, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $292,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,757⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $87,383 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 34.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 54.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 102,467 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Riverview's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverview leads 13 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 10 and Riverview wins 13. 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 Riverview or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $292,700 median home), income ($48,524 vs $87,383), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Riverview, FL are about 401 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.