Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($158,400 vs $236,500)
Rent averages $417/mo less ($985 vs $1,402)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 38°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than New Haven
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Haven by $5,781/yr
New Haven, CT
Pros
29% less violent crime than Mobile
Households earn $5,781 more per year on average
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 6.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$78k less
$158,400 vs $236,500
Mobile
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.8% unemployment
Mobile
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Median Income
$5,781
$54,305 vs $48,524/yr
New Haven
Violent Crime
29% lower
534.8 vs 752.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $236,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $54,305 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 14 and New Haven wins 9. 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $236,500 median home), income ($48,524 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and New Haven, CT are about 1,120 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.