Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 13 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
13
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.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $496k less ($112,600 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $1029/mo less ($872 vs $1,901)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $68,432/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $68,432 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Brownsville
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$496k less
$112,600 vs $608,600
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$68,432
$115,167 vs $46,735/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
72% lower
128.4 vs 456.0 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 13 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 10 and Mount Pleasant wins 13. 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 Brownsville to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $608,600 median home), income ($46,735 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 1,156 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.