Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 13 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
102,482
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 55°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wichita Falls by $7,060/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.4%)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
53% less violent crime than Mobile
Homes cost $30k less ($128,800 vs $158,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,060 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 89.4 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Income
$7,060
$55,584 vs $48,524/yr
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
53% lower
350.3 vs 752.0 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$30k less
$128,800 vs $158,400
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $55,584 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 13 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 10 and Wichita Falls 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 Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $128,800 median home), income ($48,524 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Wichita Falls, TX are about 648 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.