Mobile, AL Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Mobile, AL: What You Need to Know

If you’re going to move to Mobile, pronounce your new hometown’s name like a local – Mo-BEEL. The city is located in the southwestern corner of Alabama.

Local Culture

Mobile boasts of five legends in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, Willie McCovey, Ozzie Smith, and Billy Williams all grew up in Mobile, which has produced more Hall of Famers than any city other than New York and Los Angeles. Professional baseball started in Mobile in the 1880s, thanks to the creation of the Gulf Baseball League. In the 1920s, the Orioles, Indians, and White Sox all held their spring training in Mobile.

Things to Do in Mobile

The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is Mobile’s most popular destination. The park includes the battleship, the submarine USS DRUM, and the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion. USS Alabama earned nine battle stars during the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean campaigns of World War II.

Airboat rides in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta and dinner cruises along the Mobile River are also popular activities. For something different, visit the American Sport Art Museum and Archives (ASAMA) in nearby Daphne. The museum is dedicated to the preservation of sports art, history, and literature. It owns more than 1,800 art pieces, including paintings, sculptures, posters, and pictures.

Cost of Living in Mobile

Living expenses in Mobile (population: 188,720) are reasonable compared with other medium-size cities. Its cost of living rate and housing costs are 3.5% and 30% lower than the national average respectively. However, food cost is 18.1% higher than the national average. Mobile’s median gross rent is $836 while its median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $985. Alabama’s relatively low income tax ranges from 2% to 5%. Statewide sales tax ranges from 4% to 11.50%.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Residents rave about the amenities, open-air markets, festivals, and the waterfront in the downtown area. Almost half of all Mobile residents are renters. Dreaming of a suburban haven? Daphne and Fairhope are within commuting distance of Mobile, and both are known for their great schools. Daphne offers beautiful views of Mobile Bay, scenic beaches, and lots of outdoor activities. Fairhope’s safe and friendly environment is attracting many retirees.

Weather and Climate

Mobile is one of the wettest cities in the country, receiving about 66 inches of rain per year versus the national average of 38 inches. The city, along with other Gulf Coast areas, suffered heavily from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which brought a storm surge of 11.45 feet. The good news is, Mobile doesn’t get any snow. Also, the city enjoys about 220 sunny days annually compared with the U.S. average of 205 sunny days.