Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 16 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Mobile
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
46% less violent crime than Mobile
Households earn $11,415 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Mobile
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($158,400 vs $358,400)
Rent averages $405/mo less ($985 vs $1,390)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 40°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Elizabeth by $11,415/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Income
$11,415
$59,939 vs $48,524/yr
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
46% lower
408.7 vs 752.0 per 100k
Elizabeth
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.5% unemployment
Mobile
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$200k less
$158,400 vs $358,400
Mobile
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 30.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 50.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 16 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 7 and Mobile wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Elizabeth to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $158,400 median home), income ($59,939 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Mobile, AL are about 1,040 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.