36618 and 36608 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
36618
36608
Opportunity
35 · Bottom 14%
vs38 · Bottom 18%
Growth
32 · Bottom 21%
vs32 · Bottom 21%
Climate
78 · Top 22%
vs78 · Top 22%
Physical resilience
26 · Bottom 21%
vs26 · Bottom 21%
Housing affordability
88 · Top 36%
vs80 · Bottom 49%
Access
97 · Top 32%
vs95 · Top 43%
Economic stability
47 · Bottom 29%
vs48 · Bottom 30%
Measured values
| Metric | 36618 | 36608 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,892 | 38,890 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,550 | $61,146 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,239 | $41,328 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,123/sq mi | 597/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $164,600 | $262,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,191 | $1,047 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 75.3% | 54.2% | 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 | 27.4% | 42.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.8% | 16.6% | 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 | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 67.1" | 67.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 3 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 25.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.9 | 33.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 3 | 12 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 19.78 | 18.06 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 85.4% | 60.4% | 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
36618
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
36608
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: 36618 — Mobile, AL · 36608 — Mobile, AL · How this is calculated: methodology