Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Mobile
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316
Vancouver
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($158,400 vs $403,400)
Rent averages $540/mo less ($985 vs $1,525)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Vancouver by $25,102/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.6%)
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Households earn $25,102 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Mobile
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Mobile
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$245k less
$158,400 vs $403,400
Mobile
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$25,102
$73,626 vs $48,524/yr
Vancouver
Violent Crime
23% lower
582.3 vs 752.0 per 100k
Vancouver
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Mobile wins 11 and Vancouver 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $403,400 median home), income ($48,524 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Vancouver, WA are about 2,118 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.