Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Glendale
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Mobile
Alabama
11
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.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
35% less violent crime than Mobile
Households earn $17,851 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Mobile
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($158,400 vs $310,000)
Rent averages $283/mo less ($985 vs $1,268)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 105°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $17,851/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$17,851
$66,375 vs $48,524/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
35% lower
488.4 vs 752.0 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 91.7°F
Mobile
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$152k less
$158,400 vs $310,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 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 | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 30.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 62.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 186,316 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Glendale wins 11 and Mobile wins 11. 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 Glendale to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $158,400 median home), income ($66,375 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Mobile, AL are about 1,421 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.