Mobile, AL vs Pensacola, FL
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | MobileMobile, AL | PensacolaPensacola, FL | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Soft | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | Very Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Exposed | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 1,456 property crimes per 100,000 people, Mobile, AL and Pensacola, FL show stark differences in safety and economic conditions according to 2023 Census figures and 2025 crime data. Mobile's violent crime rate of 590 per 100,000 is 9.9 times higher than Pensacola's 60, placing Mobile in the 90th percentile and Pensacola in the 11th percentile. Property crime follows a similar pattern, with Mobile's 1,456 per 100,000 in the 56th percentile versus Pensacola's 305 in the 5th percentile. Job growth over the past year also diverges sharply, with Mobile at +2.3% in the 82nd percentile compared to Pensacola's +0.2% in the 26th percentile, a difference of 2.1 percentage points.
Economic metrics show Pensacola with higher figures across income and work patterns. Per-capita income in Pensacola is $48,053 in the 74th percentile, 46% higher than Mobile's $32,893 in the 32nd percentile. Median household income in Pensacola is $72,699 in the 50th percentile, 42% higher than Mobile's $51,090 in the 14th percentile. The share of workers who work from home is 15.2% in Pensacola (71st percentile) versus 8.1% in Mobile (34th percentile), a 7.1 percentage point difference. Population density in Pensacola is 2,370 per square mile in the 68th percentile, 93% higher than Mobile's 1,227 in the 36th percentile.
Other notable differences include the cost of living index, where Pensacola's 102 in the 50th percentile is 32% higher than Mobile's 77 in the 25th percentile. Median home values reflect this gap, with Pensacola at $276,500 in the 50th percentile versus Mobile's $170,300 in the 19th percentile, a 62% difference. Both cities carry an F grade for national disaster risk and share similar climate comfort ratings of D-, though Pensacola's tap water grades A while Mobile's is C-.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Pensacola, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 7725th pctl | 10250th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Mobile, AL 77; Pensacola, FL 102; Pensacola is 32% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $170,30019th pctl | $276,50050th pctl | Median home value: Mobile, AL $170,300; Pensacola, FL $276,500; Pensacola is 62% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,02934th pctl | $1,20951st pctl | Median rent: Mobile, AL $1,029; Pensacola, FL $1,209; Pensacola is 17% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $51,09014th pctl | $72,69950th pctl | Median household income: Mobile, AL $51,090; Pensacola, FL $72,699; Pensacola is 42% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $33,08619th pctl | $53,71950th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Mobile, AL $33,086; Pensacola, FL $53,719; Pensacola is 62% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $48,63719th pctl | $78,96750th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Mobile, AL $48,637; Pensacola, FL $78,967; Pensacola is 62% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Pensacola needs about
$99,400
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 77 vs 102). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Pensacola, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.7%52nd pctl | 3.6%48th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +2.3%82nd pctl | +0.2%26th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Mobile, AL +2.3%; Pensacola, FL +0.2%; Mobile is 2.1 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $32,89332nd pctl | $48,05374th pctl | Per-capita income: Mobile, AL $32,893; Pensacola, FL $48,053; Pensacola is 46% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 18.9%79th pctl | 12.4%54th pctl | Poverty rate: Mobile, AL 18.9%; Pensacola, FL 12.4%; Mobile is 6.5 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 22.7 min45th pctl | 21.5 min36th pctl | Average commute: Mobile, AL 22.7 min; Pensacola, FL 21.5 min; Mobile is 1 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 8.1%34th pctl | 15.2%71st pctl | Work from home: Mobile, AL 8.1%; Pensacola, FL 15.2%; Pensacola is 7.1 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Pensacola, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 59090th pctl | 6011th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Mobile, AL 590; Pensacola, FL 60; Mobile is 9.9 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,45656th pctl | 3055th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Mobile, AL 1,456; Pensacola, FL 305; Mobile is 4.8 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Very Safe | Crime & safety: Mobile, AL D+; Pensacola, FL A; Pensacola is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Mobile, AL F; Pensacola, FL D; Pensacola is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Pensacola, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Sweaty | Sweaty | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Clean | Tap water: Mobile, AL C-; Pensacola, FL A; Pensacola is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Pensacola, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | B-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Pensacola, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 1,050 mi88th pctl | 1,024 mi87th pctl | About the same |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 647 mi86th pctl | 689 mi90th pctl | Distance to international border: Mobile, AL 647 mi; Pensacola, FL 689 mi; Pensacola is 6% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 1 mi1st pctl | 2 mi2nd pctl | Distance to coastline: Mobile, AL 1 mi; Pensacola, FL 2 mi; Pensacola is 3.0 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Pensacola, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 185,09794th pctl | 54,01176th pctl | Population: Mobile, AL 185,097; Pensacola, FL 54,011; Mobile is 3.4 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,22736th pctl | 2,37068th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Mobile, AL 1,227; Pensacola, FL 2,370; Pensacola is 93% higher. |
| Median age | 37.747th pctl | 40.870th pctl | Median age: Mobile, AL 37.7; Pensacola, FL 40.8; Pensacola is 3.1 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.5%48th pctl | 42.7%70th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Mobile, AL 31.5%; Pensacola, FL 42.7%; Pensacola is 11.2 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.332nd pctl | 2.113th pctl | Average household size: Mobile, AL 2.3; Pensacola, FL 2.1; Mobile is 8% larger. |
More about Mobile's residents · Pensacola's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Mobile and Pensacola
- Median rent: $1,029 in Mobile, $1,209 in Pensacola
- Median home value: $170,300 in Mobile, $276,500 in Pensacola
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 77 in Mobile, 102 in Pensacola
- Median household income: $51,090 in Mobile, $72,699 in Pensacola
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $48,637 in Mobile, $78,967 in Pensacola
- Unemployment: 3.7% in Mobile, 3.6% in Pensacola
- Average commute: 22.7 min in Mobile, 21.5 min in Pensacola
- Violent crime per 100k: 590 in Mobile, 60 in Pensacola
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More places like Mobile and Pensacola
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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