Fresno CA vs Mobile AL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Fresno, CA

California · Population: 543,615

  • Median HH Income$66,804
  • Median Home Price$391,442
  • Unemployment8.6%
  • Bachelor's+24.9%

Mobile, AL

Alabama · Population: 185,097

  • Median HH Income$51,090
  • Median Home Price$197,044
  • Unemployment5.9%
  • Bachelor's+31.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Fresno
543,615
Fresno +
Mobile
185,097
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fresno
N/A
Mobile
N/A
Median Age
Fresno
32.4
Fresno +
Mobile
37.7
Foreign Born
Fresno
18.9%
Fresno +
Mobile
3.8%
White
Fresno
38.0%
Mobile
39.9%
Mobile +
Black
Fresno
6.7%
Mobile
52.9%
Mobile +
Asian
Fresno
14.2%
Fresno +
Mobile
2.1%
Hispanic
Fresno
50.5%
Fresno +
Mobile
3.1%
Spanish at Home
Fresno
N/A
Mobile
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Fresno
$66,804
Fresno +
Mobile
$51,090
Per Capita Income
Fresno
$31,012
Mobile
$32,893
Mobile +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fresno
$77,230
Fresno +
Mobile
$51,690
Unemployment Rate
Fresno
8.6%
Mobile
5.9%
Mobile +
Poverty Rate
Fresno
20.9%
Mobile
18.9%
Mobile +
Bachelor's Degree+
Fresno
24.9%
Mobile
31.5%
Mobile +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fresno
$391,442
Mobile
$197,044
Mobile +
Homeownership Rate
Fresno
49.7%
Mobile
51.4%
Mobile +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fresno
503
Mobile
400
Mobile +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fresno
2388
Mobile
1734
Mobile +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fresno
37.5%
Fresno +
Mobile
40.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fresno
12.7%
Fresno +
Mobile
17.0%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fresno
19.1%
Mobile
17.3%
Mobile +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fresno
15.3%
Mobile
10.2%
Mobile +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fresno
14.1%
Mobile
13.1%
Mobile +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fresno
13.8%
Fresno +
Mobile
14.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fresno
64.2°F
Fresno +
Mobile
67.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fresno
12.8 in
Fresno +
Mobile
65.3 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Fresno
7.9 µg/m³
Fresno +
Mobile
8.8 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Fresno
75.0%
Mobile
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fresno
23.7 min
Fresno +
Mobile
24.5 min

Which City is Right for You?

Fresno leads in median household income at $66,804, while mobile offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $197,044. On public safety, Mobile is safer with a violent crime rate of 400 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Fresno. Mobile has a lower unemployment rate at 5.9%, and Fresno has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fresno scores better with a lower obesity rate of 37.5%.

Compare More Cities

About Fresno & Mobile