Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 19 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
19
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $25,955/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
80% less violent crime than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Households earn $25,955 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Mount Pleasant
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$25,955
$115,167 vs $89,212/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
80% lower
128.4 vs 627.9 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Median Home Value
$76k less
$608,600 vs $684,900
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Mount Pleasant
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $608,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,901⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | A (121) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 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 19 of 23 categories. Boston wins 4 and Mount Pleasant wins 19. 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 Boston to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $608,600 median home), income ($89,212 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 816 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.