Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Sunnyvale, 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 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $1522k less ($158,400 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $2005/mo less ($985 vs $2,990)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $125,982/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $125,982 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Mobile
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Mobile
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$1522k less
$158,400 vs $1,680,700
Mobile
Summer Heat
14.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$125,982
$174,506 vs $48,524/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
67% lower
244.5 vs 752.0 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 13 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 13 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($48,524 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,986 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.