Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Fontana leads 13 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Mobile
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,706 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Mobile
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 62°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Mobile
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $348k less ($158,400 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $631/mo less ($985 vs $1,616)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $44,706/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$44,706
$93,230 vs $48,524/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
64% lower
270.2 vs 752.0 per 100k
Mobile
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$348k less
$158,400 vs $506,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 30.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 62.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 186,316 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 13 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 13 and Mobile wins 10. 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 Fontana to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $158,400 median home), income ($93,230 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Mobile, AL are about 1,724 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.