Pensacola or Mobile for higher paying jobs (Daphne: sales, insurance)

[wCat]

We have a family member that may be moving to the Mobile Bay area with her husband. He works from home so commuting isn't a problem for him. She teaches at a community college. She doesn't mind a commute, but she is looking more for a good college or university to teach, but still keep their cost of living lower. They are looking to buy between 200K to 300K depending on what kind of salary she can get.

How does the COL compare between Pensacola and the Mobile and the greater Mobile area? And good to great colleges or universities? What about state income taxes and area sales taxes and property insurance? No kids, so they are not concerned about schools.

[oscottscotto]

Mobile has the University of South Alabama, which is already D-1 and growing at one of the fastest paces in the nation. It is a good school. Pensacola will not have anything that compares with it college/university wise, but both Pensacola and Mobile have many junior colleges and community colleges as well. Mobile also has Spring Hill College and Mobile College. I don't have time to discuss the taxing differences between FL and AL, but there are some definite differences. Cost of living will be about the same. Hope that helps a little bit ... others will provide more detail I am sure.

[1984vt]

Here are some links on City Data that may be able to help.

http://www.city-data.com/business/ec...a-Florida.html

http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/T...e-Economy.html

[humacaena]

Property taxes are much lower in Alabama than in Florida but Florida has no tax on food.

[JRA2000TL]

Property taxes and insurance is about triple in FL, but there's no state income tax. Trust me. It's cheaper in AL. I wanted to move to Gulf Breeze, FL (and I've lived in Mobile my whole life), but it was cheaper to move to Daphne on the Eastern Shore. To compare...my property taxes will run about 850 a year. The same house in Gulf Breeze would run about 2300 a year.