Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 14 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $804k less ($158,400 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1147/mo less ($985 vs $2,132)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
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 Torrance by $61,030/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.3%)
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $61,030 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Mobile
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Mobile
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
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
$804k less
$158,400 vs $962,300
Mobile
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$61,030
$109,554 vs $48,524/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
59% lower
311.2 vs 752.0 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Torrance, 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 | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 14 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 9 and Torrance wins 14. 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $962,300 median home), income ($48,524 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Torrance, CA are about 1,775 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.