1st Advantage MortgageThe median Mobile County household earns $58,880, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Alabama before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Mobile County
- Employment and commuting in Mobile County
- What Mobile County households earn
- What it costs to live in Mobile County
- Mobile County and the counties next door
- Mobile County towns compared
- A Mobile County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Mobile County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Mobile County, in numbers
- Steps before you apply in Mobile County
- Lender oversight for Mobile County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Mobile County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Mobile County's population at 412,590; only 1 of Alabama's 67 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 1,229 square miles, that is close to 336 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Mobile, AL metropolitan area. Of the 20 Census places inside Mobile County, Mobile leads by population with about 203,416; 11 of the 20 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Mobile County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 13%. The survey's unemployment rate for Mobile County averages 5.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Top industries | Mobile County share | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | +0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | -1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.6% | -0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.2% | +1.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +0.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What Mobile County households earn
Half of Mobile County households take in less than $58,880 a year and half take in more, 8% below the Alabama median of $63,999.
| Band | Mobile County | Compared with Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.0% | +1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | +1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.6% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -1.6 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 16.2% of Mobile County residents in poverty, against 15.6% across Alabama. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.471 here. For a borrower in Mobile County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Mobile County
Renters in Mobile County pay a median of $1,052 a month, 4% above the Alabama figure of $1,007. By the Census definition, 56% of Mobile County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $190,700, or 3.2 years of median income. The ownership rate is 66%. Half the housing stock was built before 1980.
| Home costs | Mobile County | Alabama | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,052/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $190,700 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.9% | 12.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 15% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Mobile County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Mobile County's, from 27 to 53 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Mobile County; Baldwin County is highest at $78,775 and Greene County lowest at $54,276. The list crosses into Florida, Mississippi, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile County | - | $58,880 | $1,052/mo | 66% |
| Baldwin County, AL | 27 mi | $78,775 | $1,277/mo | 78% |
| George County, MS | 29 mi | $59,758 | $844/mo | 82% |
| Jackson County, MS | 30 mi | $66,201 | $1,101/mo | 73% |
| Greene County, MS | 45 mi | $54,276 | $802/mo | 82% |
| Washington County, AL | 50 mi | $61,042 | $655/mo | 86% |
| Escambia County, FL | 53 mi | $67,500 | $1,321/mo | 65% |
Mobile County towns compared
20 Census places fall mainly inside Mobile County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 296,433 residents, leaving about 28% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $107,857 at the median in Belle Fontaine, $36,588 in Prichard. None of the 20 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile | city | 203,416 | $53,558 | $1,068 | 5 mi |
| Prichard | city | 18,961 | $36,588 | $922 | 7 mi |
| Tillmans Corner | CDP | 17,677 | $60,837 | $908 | 7 mi |
| Saraland | city | 16,404 | $61,509 | $1,060 | 13 mi |
| Satsuma | city | 6,822 | $101,042 | $1,300 | 14 mi |
| Chickasaw | city | 6,332 | $46,559 | $960 | 9 mi |
| Semmes | city | 5,626 | $66,417 | $1,057 | 8 mi |
| Theodore | CDP | 4,964 | $67,864 | $1,244 | 10 mi |
| Citronelle | city | 3,913 | $43,870 | $769 | 29 mi |
| Grand Bay | CDP | 3,553 | $62,112 | $951 | 17 mi |
| Creola | town | 2,088 | $66,607 | $959 | 17 mi |
| Bayou La Batre | city | 1,881 | $37,679 | $880 | 20 mi |
| Dauphin Island | town | 1,852 | $67,206 | $1,844 | 30 mi |
| Mount Vernon | town | 1,339 | $46,307 | $1,040 | 30 mi |
A Mobile County household budget, worked through
Mobile County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,907 a month: gross income for a household at the Mobile County median
- Less median rent of $1,052, which is 21% of it
- With a 40% ceiling, about $911 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,052, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Mobile County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Mobile County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 10% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Renters under pressure. When 56% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Who lives in Mobile County, in numbers
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 10.4%, against 9.2% for Alabama.
| People and households | Mobile County | Alabama | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.0% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.7% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.4% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Mobile County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.8% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Steps before you apply in Mobile County
Steps that save money for Mobile County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Mobile County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Mobile County borrowers answers to the Alabama State Banking Department. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Alabama state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Alabama guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Mobile County household make?
About $58,880 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 8% below the Alabama median.
Is Mobile County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,052 against $1,007 statewide, and 56% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Mobile County?
By population: Mobile, Prichard, Tillmans Corner, Saraland, Satsuma. The county has 20 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Mobile County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Mobile County?
Start with the Alabama State Banking Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.