36606 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
36606
36609
Opportunity
33 · Bottom 12%
vs34 · Bottom 12%
Growth
32 · Bottom 21%
vs32 · Bottom 21%
Climate
73 · Top 37%
vs78 · Top 22%
Physical resilience
26 · Bottom 21%
vs26 · Bottom 21%
Housing affordability
85 · Top 43%
vs69 · Bottom 34%
Access
97 · Top 32%
vs97 · Top 32%
Economic stability
50 · Bottom 32%
vs46 · Bottom 27%
Measured values
| Metric | 36606 | 36609 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,728 | 23,820 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $51,303 | $49,830 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,339 | $34,729 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,735/sq mi | 3,555/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $172,100 | $205,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $980 | $1,087 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 48.7% | 46.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.9% | -1.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.0% | 34.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 17.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 295 | 295 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -45.9% | -45.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 43°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 60.5" | 67.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 25.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.3 | 35.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 3 | 2 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.29 | 18.88 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 66.3% | 64.2% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
36606
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
36609
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: 36606 — Mobile, AL · 36609 — Mobile, AL · How this is calculated: methodology