Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
16
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $357k less ($251,300 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $604/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,901)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $43,431/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
73% less violent crime than Arlington
Households earn $43,431 more per year on average
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$357k less
$251,300 vs $608,600
Arlington
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 91.1°F
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$43,431
$115,167 vs $71,736/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
73% lower
128.4 vs 482.9 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 7 and Mount Pleasant wins 16. 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 Arlington to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $608,600 median home), income ($71,736 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 1,002 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.