Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Mobile leads 12 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316
Moreno Valley
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($158,400 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $873/mo less ($985 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.5%)
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $34,113/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,113 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Mobile
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Mobile
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$263k less
$158,400 vs $421,400
Mobile
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$34,113
$82,637 vs $48,524/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
64% lower
272.5 vs 752.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 12 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 12 and Moreno Valley 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 Mobile to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $421,400 median home), income ($48,524 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Moreno Valley, CA are about 1,709 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.