Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Mobile leads 17 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
16% less violent crime than Springfield
Homes cost $40k less ($158,400 vs $198,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Springfield, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 6.5%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Mobile
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Income
$847
$48,524 vs $47,677/yr
Mobile
Violent Crime
16% lower
752.0 vs 891.4 per 100k
Mobile
Median Home Value
$40k less
$158,400 vs $198,500
Mobile
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.7% unemployment
Mobile
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 84.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $198,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 50.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 17 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 17 and Springfield wins 6. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $198,500 median home), income ($48,524 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Springfield, MA are about 1,169 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.