Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 17 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
17
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.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $521k less ($87,400 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $1050/mo less ($851 vs $1,901)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $77,896/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $77,896 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 8.7 pts lower (3.2%)
92% less violent crime than Cleveland
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 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$521k less
$87,400 vs $608,600
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$77,896
$115,167 vs $37,271/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
92% lower
128.4 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
8.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 11.9% unemployment
Mount Pleasant
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 17 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 6 and Mount Pleasant wins 17. 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 Cleveland to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $608,600 median home), income ($37,271 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 607 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.