Living in Mobile, AL
Mobile is the 129th-largest city in the US, home to about 201,000 people in 2025. It has lost 2.9% of its population since 2020. Prices across the metro area run well below the national average (88.1 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 200,824-2.9% since 2020
- Median home value
- $193,3003.6 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,068/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $53,558median, per year
- Price level
- 88.1US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 62° / 91°lows 41° / 73°
- Average commute
- 23 min9% work from home
- State income tax
- 5%top rate, graduated
Been to Mobile?
Added to your city passport. See things to do
County: Mobile County
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Elevation: about 10 ft
Metro area: Mobile, AL
Cost of living in Mobile
The median home in Mobile is worth $193,300 and the median household earns $53,558 a year, so a typical home costs about 3.6 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,068 a month, about 24% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Mobile, AL metro area at 88.1, with housing at 60.1 and goods at 96.4 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $66,100 here. Alabama taxes wages at a top rate of 5%. The average combined state and local sales tax in Alabama is 9.46%.
What would my salary be worth in Mobile?
Mobile weather
Average highs run from 62°F in January to 91°F in July, and January nights average 41°F. It gets 67 inches of rain and melted snow a year, with almost no snow. Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are February and October.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Mobile
People and work
The median resident is 37.3 years old, and 32% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 54% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 23 minutes; 9% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 37.3328th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 32%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 54%of households
- People per sq mile
- 1,331150.8 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 1%1% walk, 0.1% bike
- Unemployment
- 5.6%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 18.4%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1975median year
Who moves to Mobile, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Birmingham (Jefferson County), Montgomery (Montgomery County) and Huntsville (Madison County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Birmingham (Jefferson County), Houston (Harris County) and Huntsville (Madison County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
FEMA rating for Mobile County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: hurricane, lightning, tornado, inland flooding.
Home prices
+2.1% in a year
Up 41% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Mobile, AL area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
72% good days
0 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Mobile, AL area (363 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Pros and cons of living in Mobile
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Homes are affordable for locals: the median home costs 3.6 years of median household income, lower than in three quarters of the cities we cover.
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 12% below the US average (BEA).
- Data Winters are warm, with January highs around 62°F.
Cons
- Data Sales tax is high: 9.46% on average with local taxes.
Mobile report card from locals
0 of 5 reports so far. We show the Mobile report card once 5 residents have rated it, so one opinion never stands in for a whole city. Live here? Add yours.
Rate Mobile (2 minutes)
Lived here once? Map every city you have lived in and see how your homes compare.
Ask a local about Mobile
No questions yet. Thinking about a move? Ask about neighborhoods, schools, winters, traffic or anything else, and people who live in Mobile can answer.
Mobile through locals' eyes
No resident photos yet. Share the view from your street, your favorite park or the city on a good day.
Share a photo
Contributions are read by a person before they appear. We remove ads, links, personal attacks and anything about private people. See the most helpful locals.
Cities near Mobile
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport, MS | 60 mi | 76,506 | $174,600 | 90.0 | Compare |
| New Orleans, LA | 128 mi | 362,154 | $315,700 | 92.6 | Compare |
| Metairie, LA | 131 mi | 139,729 | $327,500 | 92.6 | Compare |
| Montgomery, AL | 159 mi | 195,300 | $161,900 | 89.7 | Compare |
| Jackson, MS | 166 mi | 141,196 | $111,700 | 89.0 | Compare |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 178 mi | 222,795 | $234,700 | 90.8 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Mobile with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Mobile a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show prices below the national average, homes that cost under four years of median income, short commutes; the trade-offs are a shrinking population. Compare Mobile side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Mobile?
The Census Bureau estimates Mobile had 200,824 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 206,900 in April 2020 (-2.9%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Mobile?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $66,100 in the Mobile area. The median household here earns $53,558.
When is the best time to visit Mobile?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, February and October are the most comfortable months. July averages 91°F and January 62°F for daytime highs.
What county is Mobile in?
Mobile is in Mobile County, Alabama. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Mobile in?
Mobile is on Central Time (UTC-6, or UTC-5 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Mobile?
Close to sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Alabama have a state income tax?
Yes. Alabama has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 5% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Mobile. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Mobile, AL metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Mobile, AL station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.