Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316
Rochester
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 33°F
Households earn $4,368 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $47k less ($111,400 vs $158,400)
23% less violent crime than Mobile
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 6.5%)
Median income trails Mobile by $4,368/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Income
$4,368
$48,524 vs $44,156/yr
Mobile
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.5% unemployment
Mobile
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Violent Crime
23% lower
582.3 vs 752.0 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$47k less
$111,400 vs $158,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $995 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 14 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 14 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $111,400 median home), income ($48,524 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Rochester, NY are about 1,038 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.