Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 13 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Mobile
Alabama
13
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $73,015 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Mobile
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Mobile
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $839k less ($158,400 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1643/mo less ($985 vs $2,628)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $73,015/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$73,015
$121,539 vs $48,524/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
42% lower
436.7 vs 752.0 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Mobile
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$839k less
$158,400 vs $997,600
Mobile
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 50.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 10 and Mobile 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 Cambridge to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $158,400 median home), income ($121,539 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Mobile, AL are about 1,238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.