Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 12 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $47k less ($158,400 vs $205,200)
Rent averages $128/mo less ($985 vs $1,113)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Tyler
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tyler by $14,532/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.3%)
Tyler, TX
Pros
48% less violent crime than Mobile
Households earn $14,532 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Mobile
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$47k less
$158,400 vs $205,200
Tyler
Median Income
$14,532
$63,056 vs $48,524/yr
Tyler
Violent Crime
48% lower
391.2 vs 752.0 per 100k
Tyler
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $205,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $63,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 47.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 16.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 12 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 11 and Tyler wins 12. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $205,200 median home), income ($48,524 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Tyler, TX are about 439 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.