Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Carmel leads 15 of 22 categories
Carmel
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,167
Violent Crime Index
34
Population
90,945
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
49% less violent crime than Mount Pleasant
Homes cost $183k less ($425,900 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $402/mo less ($1,499 vs $1,901)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,692 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (2.6%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 35°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Median income trails Carmel by $17,692/yr
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$17,692
$132,859 vs $115,167/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
49% lower
66.0 vs 128.4 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$183k less
$425,900 vs $608,600
Carmel
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
2.6% vs 3.2% unemployment
Mount Pleasant
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $115,167 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 3.2% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 43 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 34 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 56 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 65.4% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 97.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 40.6 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carmel leads 15 of 22 categories. Carmel wins 15 and Mount Pleasant wins 7. 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 Carmel to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $608,600 median home), income ($132,859 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 605 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.