Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 15 of 22 categories
Arlington
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,167
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, VA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $22,220 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
50% less violent crime than Arlington
Homes cost $225k less ($608,600 vs $833,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $326/mo less ($1,901 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $22,220/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$22,220
$137,387 vs $115,167/yr
Mount Pleasant
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.9 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
50% lower
128.4 vs 254.4 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Median Home Value
$225k less
$608,600 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $608,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,901⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $115,167 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.2% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) | A (121) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 65.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Mount Pleasant is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 15 of 22 categories. Arlington wins 7 and Mount Pleasant wins 15. 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 ($833,300 vs $608,600 median home), income ($137,387 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.