Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Nashua
New Hampshire
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($158,400 vs $344,900)
Rent averages $612/mo less ($985 vs $1,597)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $40,242/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.1%)
Nashua, NH
Pros
Households earn $40,242 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Mobile
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.1%)
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Mobile
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$187k less
$158,400 vs $344,900
Mobile
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 84.7°F
Nashua
Median Income
$40,242
$88,766 vs $48,524/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
79% lower
160.5 vs 752.0 per 100k
Nashua
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 106.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $344,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 40.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 46.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 16.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 13 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 10 and Nashua 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 Mobile to Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $344,900 median home), income ($48,524 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Nashua, NH are about 1,238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.