Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley 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
San Tan Valley
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($158,400 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $744/mo less ($985 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than San Tan Valley
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $39,942/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $39,942 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Mobile
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Mobile
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$146k less
$158,400 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$39,942
$88,466 vs $48,524/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
69% lower
235.7 vs 752.0 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.5% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 10 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $304,000 median home), income ($48,524 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,384 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.