Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 Mobile leads 13 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,316
St. Louis
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
45% less violent crime than St. Louis
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 41°F
Homes cost $16k less ($158,400 vs $174,100)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Louis
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.4%)
Median income trails St. Louis by $4,417/yr
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,417 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Mobile
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Violent Crime
45% lower
752.0 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Mobile
Median Home Value
$16k less
$158,400 vs $174,100
St. Louis
Median Income
$4,417
$52,941 vs $48,524/yr
St. Louis
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $174,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $52,941 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 13 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 13 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $174,100 median home), income ($48,524 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and St. Louis, MO are about 564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.