Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($158,400 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $568/mo less ($985 vs $1,553)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (6.5%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Rialto
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Rialto by $32,226/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Rialto, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,226 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Mobile
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 62°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Mobile
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
$260k less
$158,400 vs $418,300
Mobile
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
6.5% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$32,226
$80,750 vs $48,524/yr
Rialto
Violent Crime
15% lower
641.7 vs 752.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Rialto, 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 | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 14 and Rialto wins 9. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $418,300 median home), income ($48,524 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Rialto, CA are about 1,719 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.