Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
16
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.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $477k less ($132,100 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $959/mo less ($942 vs $1,901)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $68,983/yr
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $68,983 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Buffalo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 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)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$477k less
$132,100 vs $608,600
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$68,983
$115,167 vs $46,184/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
82% lower
128.4 vs 706.2 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Mount Pleasant
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories. Buffalo 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 Buffalo to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $608,600 median home), income ($46,184 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 699 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.