Jefferson County vs Mobile County
Jefferson County, Alabama versus Mobile County, Alabama: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Jefferson County and Mobile County score about the same overall (42 vs 39 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Jefferson County | Mobile County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $64k | $55k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $45k |
| Home Value | $209k | $165k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $973 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.61% | 0.50% |
| Income Tax | 5.59% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 9.29% | 9.29% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.67% | 9.57% |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | 5.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 45°F | 51°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 81°F | 82°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1 in | 68.6 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3 in | 0.2 in |
| Sunny Days | 261 days | 235 days |
| Summer Humidity | 71°F | 74°F |
| Comfortable Days | 84 days | 109 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 97.6 | 98.0 |
| Air Quality | 61 AQI | 46 AQI |
| School Quality | 49.9 | 40.9 |
| Violent Crime | 2021/100k | 2685/100k |
| Property Crime | 2681/100k | 2415/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 672,265 | 413,878 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 38.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.56 | 0.55 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.91 | 0.92 |
| Political Leaning | D+13 | R+12 |
| White (%) | 48.9% | 55.8% |
| Black (%) | 42.6% | 36.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 4.2% | 3.0% |
| Asian (%) | 1.7% | 2.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.6% | 3.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 24 min | 26 min |
| Walkability | 8.9/20 | 6.8/20 |
| Airport Distance | 10 mi | 133 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.0% | 81.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 0.70 | 3.48 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Jefferson County or Mobile County more affordable?
- Mobile County has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Jefferson County's $49k and Mobile County's $45k. Median rent is $1k in Jefferson County versus $973 in Mobile County.
- Is Jefferson County or Mobile County safer?
- Jefferson County has the lower violent crime rate. Jefferson County reports 2021/100k and Mobile County reports 2685/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Jefferson County or Mobile County?
- The median home value is $209k in Jefferson County and $165k in Mobile County, so homes are more affordable in Mobile County.