Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Mobile leads 13 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316
Modesto
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($158,400 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $512/mo less ($985 vs $1,497)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.5%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Modesto by $24,851/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,851 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Mobile
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Mobile
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$223k less
$158,400 vs $381,800
Mobile
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Median Income
$24,851
$73,375 vs $48,524/yr
Modesto
Violent Crime
13% lower
655.7 vs 752.0 per 100k
Modesto
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 13 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 13 and Modesto 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 Mobile to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $381,800 median home), income ($48,524 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Modesto, CA are about 1,931 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.