Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 11 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,167 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34
Population
90,945
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $467k less ($141,900 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $878/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,901)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $64,675/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $64,675 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 15% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$467k less
$141,900 vs $608,600
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 91.1°F
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$64,675
$115,167 vs $50,492/yr
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 43 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 34 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 56 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 59.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 11 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 9 and Mount Pleasant wins 11. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $608,600 median home), income ($50,492 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 134 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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