Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Mobile leads 13 of 22 categories
Mobile
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $309k less ($158,400 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $747/mo less ($985 vs $1,732)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $42,127/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.1%)
Westminster, CO
Pros
Households earn $42,127 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Mobile
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Mobile
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$309k less
$158,400 vs $467,200
Westminster
Median Income
$42,127
$90,651 vs $48,524/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
60% lower
303.6 vs 752.0 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mobile leads 13 of 22 categories. Mobile wins 13 and Westminster wins 9. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $467,200 median home), income ($48,524 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Westminster, CO are about 1,146 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.