Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 15 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Mobile
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Mobile
Households earn $3,925 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.5%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Mobile
Mobile, AL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (6.5%)
Rent averages $217/mo less ($985 vs $1,202)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
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 Allentown by $3,925/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Income
$3,925
$52,449 vs $48,524/yr
Allentown
Violent Crime
64% lower
272.1 vs 752.0 per 100k
Mobile
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$10k less
$158,400 vs $168,800
Mobile
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
6.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Mobile
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 30.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 50.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Mobile wins 15. 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 Allentown to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $158,400 median home), income ($52,449 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Mobile, AL are about 984 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.