Madison County vs Mobile County
Madison 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.
Madison County edges out Mobile County on overall objective livability (43 vs 39 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Madison County | Mobile County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $78k | $55k |
| Cost of Living | $50k | $45k |
| Home Value | $243k | $165k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $973 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.41% | 0.50% |
| Income Tax | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 9.29% | 9.29% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.33% | 9.57% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | 5.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 42°F | 51°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 80°F | 82°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.2 in | 68.6 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0 in | 0.2 in |
| Sunny Days | 229 days | 235 days |
| Summer Humidity | 70°F | 74°F |
| Comfortable Days | 72 days | 109 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 94.6 | 98.0 |
| Air Quality | 49 AQI | 46 AQI |
| School Quality | 38.7 | 40.9 |
| Violent Crime | 1232/100k | 2685/100k |
| Property Crime | 1269/100k | 2415/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 389,781 | 413,878 |
| Median Age | 38.5 | 38.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.51 | 0.55 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.97 | 0.92 |
| Political Leaning | Even | R+12 |
| White (%) | 63.5% | 55.8% |
| Black (%) | 24.3% | 36.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 5.3% | 3.0% |
| Asian (%) | 2.4% | 2.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.5% | 3.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 22 min | 26 min |
| Walkability | 7.6/20 | 6.8/20 |
| Airport Distance | 82 mi | 133 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.1% | 81.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 6.03 | 3.48 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | 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 Madison County or Mobile County more affordable?
- Mobile County has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Madison County's $50k and Mobile County's $45k. Median rent is $1k in Madison County versus $973 in Mobile County.
- Is Madison County or Mobile County safer?
- Madison County has the lower violent crime rate. Madison County reports 1232/100k and Mobile County reports 2685/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Madison County or Mobile County?
- The median home value is $243k in Madison County and $165k in Mobile County, so homes are more affordable in Mobile County.