The Town FilesMobile, Alabama
City in Mobile County · population 187,041 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,300
- Household income
- $53,558
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 54
- Median age
- 37.3
Mobile is a city of 187,041 people in Mobile County, Alabama. The median home is worth $193,300, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of Alabama towns, hipper than 96% of Alabama towns, more seaside character than 96% of Alabama towns.
How Mobile ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mobile is worth $193,300, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $53,558, which is more affordable than 19% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,068 a month. 54.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mobile | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,300 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,068 | $834 |
| Median household income | $53,558 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.0% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Mobile
| People | Mobile | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.0% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.4% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Mobile
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 42.5°F. About 60.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 15 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
54 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mobile since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 3, 1968 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 8, 1985.
Severe weather in Mobile County since 1996
Mobile County has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Hurricane | EM-3656: Hurricane Isaias |
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| January 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4684: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 20, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4563: Hurricane Sally |
Jobs and pay in Mobile County
Mobile County had 175,327 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,700 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Mobile itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Mobile
59 public schools with 31,492 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baker High School | 9-12 | 2,421 | 17.9 |
| WP Davidson High School | 9-12 | 1,473 | 17.5 |
| Bernice J Causey Middle School | 6-8 | 1,405 | 20.7 |
| Murphy High School | 9-12 | 1,255 | 16.5 |
| ER Dickson Elementary School | PK-5 | 1,058 | 20.7 |
| Lillie B Williamson High School | 6-12 | 996 | 17.2 |
| Olive J Dodge Elementary School | PK-5 | 889 | 19.3 |
| ORourke Elementary School | PK-5 | 813 | 18.5 |
| Dr Robert W Gilliard Elementary | PK-5 | 803 | 20.6 |
| Elsie Collier Elementary School | PK-5 | 764 | 18.6 |
| Burns Middle School | 6-8 | 692 | 17.3 |
| WC Griggs Elementary School | PK-5 | 653 | 17.6 |
Towns near Mobile
- Chickasaw, AL7.3 mi · 6,457 people · home $117,500
- Prichard, AL7.4 mi · 19,322 people · home $85,700
- Tillmans Corner, AL8.6 mi · 17,731 people · home $166,700
- Theodore, AL10.1 mi · 6,270 people · home $154,900
- Semmes, AL12.1 mi · 4,941 people · home $215,600
- Saraland, AL12.9 mi · 16,171 people · home $217,600
- Satsuma, AL13.4 mi · 6,749 people · home $219,400
- Daphne, AL14.0 mi · 27,462 people · home $323,400
Mobile questions
Is Mobile, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mobile scores better for retirees than 25% of Alabama towns and quieter than 2%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Mobile?
The median owner-occupied home in Mobile is valued at $193,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,558, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,068 a month.
What is the weather like in Mobile?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 42.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Mobile get tornadoes?
54 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mobile since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 3, 1968. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)