Decatur, AL vs Mobile, AL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Decatur, AL and Mobile, AL spend within 8.9% of each other per resident — $17,185 versus $15,777 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Mobile, AL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 55/100 (grade C) against 46/100 (grade D) for Decatur, AL — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Mobile, AL reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Decatur, AL carries $1,290 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Decatur, AL leads with parks and recreation at $2,612 per resident, while Mobile, AL leads with fire protection at $2,010.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Decatur, AL at 100% of total revenue, whereas Mobile, AL relies most on other revenue at 111%.
Summary
Decatur spends 8.9% more per capita than Mobile ($1,408/person difference). Mobile, AL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $855 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $975 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $1,360 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $37,427 | $1,338 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,804 | $0 |
| Other | $4,387 | $1,479 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $537 |
| Fire Protection | $254 | $2,010 |
| Highways & Roads | $95 | $501 |
| Education | $43 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,023 | $2,357 |
| Health | $66 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,729 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,612 | $524 |
| Housing | $2,549 | $2,998 |
| Sewerage | $164 | $129 |
| Utilities | $3,362 | $791 |
| Other | $5,289 | $5,930 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.