Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 13 of 22 categories
Joliet
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Mobile
Alabama
13
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.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $36,447 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Mobile
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Mobile
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($158,400 vs $233,800)
Rent averages $189/mo less ($985 vs $1,174)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 31°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $36,447/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$36,447
$84,971 vs $48,524/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
53% lower
350.0 vs 752.0 per 100k
Mobile
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$75k less
$158,400 vs $233,800
Mobile
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 30.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mobile leads 13 of 22 categories. Joliet wins 9 and Mobile wins 13. 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 Joliet to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $158,400 median home), income ($84,971 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Mobile, AL are about 750 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.