Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 14 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ 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.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $288k less ($320,600 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $618/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,901)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $41,340/yr
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
77% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Households earn $41,340 more per year on average
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Bakersfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$288k less
$320,600 vs $608,600
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 91.1°F
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$41,340
$115,167 vs $73,827/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
77% lower
128.4 vs 554.6 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 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 | 135⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 14 of 23 categories. Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $608,600 median home), income ($73,827 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 2,234 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.