Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 14 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,167 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
90,945
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $447k less ($161,800 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $841/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,901)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $55,913/yr
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $55,913 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Abilene
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$447k less
$161,800 vs $608,600
Abilene
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 91.1°F
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$55,913
$115,167 vs $59,254/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
70% lower
128.4 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.2% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 9 and Mount Pleasant 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 Abilene to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $608,600 median home), income ($59,254 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 1,155 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.