Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Mobile leads 13 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4
Median Household Income
$48,524 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
36% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $5,074 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 43°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.8%)
Springfield, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Rent averages $107/mo less ($878 vs $985)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Mobile by $5,074/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Median Income
$5,074
$48,524 vs $43,450/yr
Mobile
Violent Crime
36% lower
752.0 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Mobile
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 88.2°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 89.4 on the COL index
Springfield
Median Home Value
$12k less
$146,400 vs $158,400
Springfield
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 13 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 13 and Springfield wins 10. 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 $146,400 median home), income ($48,524 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Springfield, MO are about 540 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.