Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Mobile
Alabama
14
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,477 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Mobile
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($158,400 vs $321,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.5%)
Rent averages $242/mo less ($985 vs $1,227)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fresno by $14,477/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Income
$14,477
$63,001 vs $48,524/yr
Fresno
Violent Crime
2% lower
735.5 vs 752.0 per 100k
Fresno
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 91.7°F
Mobile
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$163k less
$158,400 vs $321,800
Mobile
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 30.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 186,316 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 50.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories. Fresno 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 Fresno to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $158,400 median home), income ($63,001 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Mobile, AL are about 1,861 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.