Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 12 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $70k less ($158,400 vs $228,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 56°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
26% less violent crime than Mobile
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Income
$1,267
$48,524 vs $47,257/yr
Mobile
Median Home Value
$70k less
$158,400 vs $228,300
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
26% lower
553.4 vs 752.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 90.0 |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 58.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 12 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 12 and Tuscaloosa wins 11. 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 Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $228,300 median home), income ($48,524 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 180 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.