Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 12 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280
Mobile
Alabama
12
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.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,755 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Mobile
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 62°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Mobile
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $633k less ($158,400 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $1004/mo less ($985 vs $1,989)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $50,755/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$50,755
$99,279 vs $48,524/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
39% lower
455.3 vs 752.0 per 100k
Mobile
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$633k less
$158,400 vs $791,000
Mobile
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 62.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton'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 12 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 11 and Mobile wins 12. 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 Fullerton to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $158,400 median home), income ($99,279 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Mobile, AL are about 1,750 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.