Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
97,980 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 59°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $19,597/yr
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
25% less violent crime than Boca Raton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $19,597 more per year on average
Rent averages $269/mo less ($1,901 vs $2,170)
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Home Value
$12k less
$597,100 vs $608,600
Mount Pleasant
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$19,597
$115,167 vs $95,570/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
25% lower
128.4 vs 171.0 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,901⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 59.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 54.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 42.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 17.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Mount Pleasant is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories. Boca Raton 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 Boca Raton to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $608,600 median home), income ($95,570 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.