Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 13 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($158,400 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $629/mo less ($985 vs $1,614)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $15,520/yr
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
23% less violent crime than Mobile
Households earn $15,520 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 62°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Mobile
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$166k less
$158,400 vs $324,800
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$15,520
$64,044 vs $48,524/yr
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
23% lower
575.8 vs 752.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 61.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 10 and West Palm Beach wins 13. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $324,800 median home), income ($48,524 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and West Palm Beach, FL are about 554 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.