If Southern culture is something you can see yourself embracing Mobile might be the next city for you. The original home of Mardi Gras (they call it “The Little Easy”), the city knows how to throw a party to celebrate its southern history, and their resident World War II battleship the USS Alabama, and the Spanish moss lining Mobile’s buildings year-round are just two visual introductions to how they honor their past even when the party isn’t going. Mobile’s politics also tend to swing right, another more modern southern staple that Mobile sticks to.

The biggest challenge Mobile faces is improving the school system. Cities that aren't too far away including Madison and Huntsville have much higher-rated schools and pull families from Mobile. This impacts the tax base and the cycle spires downward. Families that have the resources will often send their kids to expensive religious private schools. 




Southern Comfort

LookyLOO Review of Mobile

Downtown Mobile is lined with a mix of small businesses, art museums, and great seafood restaurants. Being right on the Gulf of Mexico is great for more than just seafood, however. A plethora of beaches sit waiting on one of Alabama’s many hot and humid days, and fishing is a popular pastime in nearby streams, lakes, and the Gulf. Mobile is known for feeling more like a small southern town than a city with a population hovering around 200K. It’s a tight-knit community that supports each other, which can be a good or bad thing depending on where you fit in with that community. Residents in Mobile are notoriously stubborn about transplants from pretty much anywhere else other than the South.

If you want to see what happens in Mobile check out the [calendar of events](https://www.mobile.org/events/). 

We highly recommend visiting Mobile and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.


Lifestyle

Not to beat a dead horse here, but the economic situation in Mobile has been heading in the wrong direction in recent years. It’s definitely not a bad idea to have a job offer in the bag before deciding to move to the area. As for the specifics, there isn’t a industry that rises to the a notable level in Mobile. Infirmary Health is both one of the largest healthcare companies in the state and one of the largest employers in town. Austal is another large employer that designs, constructs and supports commercial and defense vessels.


Worklife

There aren’t very many metropolitan areas in the U.S. that swing right politically. The pandemic drove many a conservative from liberal big cities to more conservative towns and if that's your thing and you appreciate saving some dough in the process take a look at Mobile. Caveat, makes sure you already have a job lined up in the area or are a WFH'er, before loading up the u-haul. 

If You Crave A Red-ish City

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**GrafVonMorgenstern**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉🦉

Hello fellow Mid-Westerner! Im new to AL as well and I've lived in Indy for the last decade, on and off, as I also have a house in NY.

Mobile is freaking AWESOME. It's JUST big enough to cover all the on the whim basics of a big city. Yes, it's not NYC or Chicago or LA, so I can't find extremely weird ethnic foods, but with the internet that's literally a click and 24hour shipping away. Same goes with any stores, if I want an actual Persian rug I have to order one from NYC, but if I need anything basic there literally 30 stores within 2 minutes of me.

Don't let people on here dissuade you, if they are unhappy they are unhappy not because of the city but because of their lives.

Crime is freaking low here, compared to NYC, Chicago and Indianapolis. I'm sure it does happen, but it's a case of you gotta go look for trouble to find it. Plus, lax carry laws and I carry, so not many worries.

Weather ain't bad at all. My first experience, with my best friend/new wife wanting me to see the best and the worst, was surviving though August head/humidity. I did fine, got a sh*t-tone of yardwork done at our place. Not bad at all, just gotta hit it early in the AM or late in the PM. And I lost a good 20 lbs just sweating it out. Granted, I also grew up on the Black Sea coast in Europa and spend a lot of time in the middle east, so this isn't too strange. And I like knowing I DONT need my Carhartt overalls to shovel snow anymore.

For more reviews of Mobile from locals check out: **[The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/mobile/reviews)**


Reviews of Mobile from Locals

Downtown and Midtown are the two prominent areas for young professionals in Mobile. They have the highest concentration of newer apartment and condo options and are walking distance from the bars, restaurants and entertainment spots in the city. From February to March the city is filled with Mardi Gras parties, balls, festivals and general shenanigans that make living here a party. There’s also a big outdoor scene on Mobile Bay and plenty of culture in the historic districts downtown. 
- Downtown
- Midtown


Young Professionals

Downtown

In spite of the conservative politics of Mobile there is an LGBTQ+ scene here. Not really a dense neighborhood for living like you see in other cities but a social district called the Rainbow District, which has the highest concentration of LGBTQ-owned and friendly businesses. Mardi Gras is also a time where the community jumps in feet first and participates in the party. https://www.mobile.org/explore/lgbtq/
- Downtown
- Rainbow District


LGBTQ+

Rainbow District

Country Club is the most high falutin family neighborhood in Mobile. Needless to say it surrounds the Country Club of Mobile and in addition to the golf culture and beautiful grounds the homes and yards and tree-lined streets are stunning. College Park is another good choice. You get a combination of great housing, parks, good schools, and proximity to Spring Hill College, giving the area a more youthful vibe. 
- Country Club
- College Park 
- Parkhill


Families

Country Club

Mobile

**GrafVonMorgenstern**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉🦉

Hello fellow Mid-Westerner! Im new to AL as well and I've lived in Indy for the last decade, on and off, as I also have a house in NY.

Mobile is freaking AWESOME. It's JUST big enough to cover all the on the whim basics of a big city. Yes, it's not NYC or Chicago or LA, so I can't find extremely weird ethnic foods, but with the internet that's literally a click and 24hour shipping away. Same goes with any stores, if I want an actual Persian rug I have to order one from NYC, but if I need anything basic there literally 30 stores within 2 minutes of me.

Don't let people on here dissuade you, if they are unhappy they are unhappy not because of the city but because of their lives.

Crime is freaking low here, compared to NYC, Chicago and Indianapolis. I'm sure it does happen, but it's a case of you gotta go look for trouble to find it. Plus, lax carry laws and I carry, so not many worries.

Weather ain't bad at all. My first experience, with my best friend/new wife wanting me to see the best and the worst, was surviving though August head/humidity. I did fine, got a sh*t-tone of yardwork done at our place. Not bad at all, just gotta hit it early in the AM or late in the PM. And I lost a good 20 lbs just sweating it out. Granted, I also grew up on the Black Sea coast in Europa and spend a lot of time in the middle east, so this isn't too strange. And I like knowing I DONT need my Carhartt overalls to shovel snow anymore.

**Anonymous**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

I lived there for 8 years and moved about 18 months ago. The culture is awesome in Mobile. The weather is great almost all year round. Summer gets humid as hell but whatever. Take a vacation somewhere more mild or go to the pool or beach or go float the river. Or just stay in the AC. Who cares. The food is awesome, the city has really blossomed with activities. There are way more festivals, free outdoor concerts, cool bars with live music. Mardi Gras is the best time of the year. South Alabama has a stadium on campus now so the games are more fun than ever. A really happy city to live in. Yeah it has rough areas but it's nowhere near as bad as a major city. You have close access to New Orleans if you want big city vibes. You're gonna see way more culture there than you will in the Midwest (besides in big cities like Chicago). Eat some crawfish and oysters for me. It's a great place to live, I miss it a lot.

**MomshellBelle**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

I moved here from a small town in central Alabama almost 13 years ago. I love Mobile. Feels more like home than my hometown ever did. There is a decent amount of crime, but generally the violent crime occurs between people who know each other. There are trails in quite a few parks, and even more within a 20-30 minute drive from Mobile. There are a few good places to grab some cajun food from, Mud Bugs at the Loop is one of my favorites. But in my own experience, the best cajun food is found at cookouts with friends/family in the area. You'll find some locals "dooming" on Mobile, but I think it's a wonderful city with a lot of growth opportunities.

**o-ater**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Love it! The city is on a big upswing in terms of growth and prosperity. Crime is not a big issue compared to say New Orleans, BHM, Montgomery. Tons of outdoor activities! You can be on the island in 30 minutes and go to the beach, fish, sail, paddleboard, walk the trails of the bird sanctuary or be in the woods 30 minutes the other way and go hunting, fishing, birding, exploring, etc. We have Mardi Gras and you can find a decent shrimp poboy in a few places. Its a great time to be a Mobilian.

Mobile, Alabama

The Little Easy

Looklyloo Score: 83