Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories
Downey
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,712 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Mobile
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 62°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Mobile
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $521k less ($158,400 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $829/mo less ($985 vs $1,814)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $35,712/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$35,712
$84,236 vs $48,524/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
39% lower
460.5 vs 752.0 per 100k
Downey
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Mobile
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$521k less
$158,400 vs $679,000
Mobile
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ 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 | C+ (88) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 30.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 62.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 50.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories. Downey wins 9 and Mobile wins 14. 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 Downey to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $158,400 median home), income ($84,236 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Mobile, AL are about 1,762 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.