Goldsboro receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Mobile
Goldsboro
Opportunity
32 · Bottom 10%
vs36 · Bottom 13%
Growth
37 · Bottom 30%
vs60 · Top 33%
Climate
78 · Top 9%
vs74 · Top 25%
Physical resilience
26 · Bottom 15%
vs29 · Bottom 18%
Housing affordability
89 · Bottom 35%
vs97 · Top 42%
Access
97 · Top 12%
vs89 · Top 27%
Economic stability
36 · Bottom 27%
vs42 · Bottom 37%
Measured values
| Metric | Mobile | Goldsboro | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 412,590 | 118,652 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $58,880 | $59,733 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,306 | $31,983 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 336/sq mi | 214/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $190,700 | $178,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,052 | $965 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.0% | 61.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.9% | -3.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.0% | 21.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | 17.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,180 | 884 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 7.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -15.0% | 4.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 67.1" | 52.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 3 mi | 23 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 24.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.5 | 37.3 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Mobile
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Goldsboro
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: Mobile, AL Metro Area · Goldsboro, NC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology