Mobile, AL, known as "The Port City," is renowned for its rich history and vibrant cultural scene. Located on the Gulf Coast, Mobile is approximately 60 miles west of Pensacola, FL, and 150 miles east of New Orleans, LA. This medium-sized city is known for its beautiful waterfront, historic architecture, and lively festivals, making it a desirable place to live.
Mobile's climate features hot, humid summers and mild winters, providing ideal conditions for year-round outdoor activities. The city boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, including the scenic Mobile Bay and the expansive Bienville Square, which offer trails, gardens, and opportunities for boating and fishing.
The cultural scene in Mobile is vibrant, with attractions like the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, the Mobile Museum of Art, and the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center. The city hosts a variety of events and festivals throughout the year, including the Mobile Mardi Gras and the BayFest music festival, celebrating the city's artistic and cultural achievements.
Education is a priority in Mobile, with institutions like the University of South Alabama and Spring Hill College providing higher education opportunities. The city's public and private schools are highly regarded, making Mobile an attractive place for families. The presence of major healthcare institutions, such as the Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, also supports a strong job market.
Living in Mobile combines the benefits of a vibrant cultural scene with a high quality of life. Residents enjoy access to excellent healthcare facilities, diverse dining options, and a range of housing choices. The city's efficient public transportation system and well-maintained infrastructure make commuting and exploring the area convenient. With its historical richness, cultural vibrancy, and welcoming atmosphere, Mobile offers a dynamic and fulfilling living experience.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Employment
The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.
Schools
Factors such as lower than average graduation rates, lackluster reading and math scores and the limited accessibility of local elementary and high schools could contribute to the low schools score.
Ratings
Polls and surveys done by AreaVibes among area residents did not yield positive feedback when it came to the walkability of amenities, safety, nearby parks and the overall sense of community.
Located in the state of Alabama, Mobile is a mid-sized city with a population of 189,994 people. Individuals of White (44%) and Black or African American (51%) backgrounds make up a significant portion of the population of the city. Mobile is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 46%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married.
Are you trying to decide if living in Mobile is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a great experience before relocating to any new city in Alabama, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Finding the best places to live in Mobile and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, commute, health & safety, education and other important metrics.
Mobile, AL receives 68/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #31 in Alabama and #7,522 in the USA. Based on the rankings for each individual category, Mobile has received high marks for amenities (B-), cost of living (A+) and housing (B+). Mobile does not fare well for the following: education (D) and employment (F). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
If you're living in Mobile, you can expect to enjoy a multitude of local amenities, mostly thanks to the strategic placement of essential services such as grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks and various shops. If you're contemplating a move to this locale with the intent of establishing it as your permanent residence, you'll be pleased to find an extensive array of amenities and recreational opportunities within easy reach, either on foot or via a brief commute. This wealth of accessible amenities not only enhances the livability of the area but also ensures that you can enjoy a rich and fulfilling lifestyle, making Mobile an attractive destination for those seeking a vibrant and well-served community to call home. Among the enticing options for fun and exploration in Mobile are: USS ALABAMA BATTLESHIP, Mobile Carnival Museum, and Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Mobile excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
Mobile real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Mobile. Median real estate prices in Mobile come in at $134,100, which is 4.4% higher than the Alabama average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Mobile, the home price to income ratio is 3.1, which is 6.9% higher than the Alabama average.
| Statistic | Mobile | Alabama | National |
| Average one way commute | 22min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 84.3% | 85.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 7.5% | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.9% | 0.4% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.4% | 1.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.7% | 2.9% | 4.6% |
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