Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Mobile
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $823k less ($158,400 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1115/mo less ($985 vs $2,100)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 5 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 Pasadena by $49,294/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,294 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Mobile
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 62°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Mobile
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$823k less
$158,400 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Median Income
$49,294
$97,818 vs $48,524/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
36% lower
480.4 vs 752.0 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Mobile wins 11 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $981,600 median home), income ($48,524 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Pasadena, CA are about 1,762 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.