Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Madison leads 12 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Mobile
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
66% less violent crime than Mobile
Households earn $26,371 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Mobile
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($158,400 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $306/mo less ($985 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $26,371/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Median Income
$26,371
$74,895 vs $48,524/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
66% lower
256.0 vs 752.0 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Mobile
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$168k less
$158,400 vs $326,600
Mobile
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 186,316 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 50.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 12 of 23 categories. Madison wins 12 and Mobile wins 11. 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 Madison to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $158,400 median home), income ($74,895 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Mobile, AL are about 861 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.