Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories
Compton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
16
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $437/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,901)
Homes cost $119k less ($489,400 vs $608,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $45,439/yr
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
90% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $45,439 more per year on average
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Home Value
$119k less
$489,400 vs $608,600
Mount Pleasant
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$45,439
$115,167 vs $69,728/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
90% lower
128.4 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.9% unemployment
Mount Pleasant
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 59.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Mount Pleasant is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories. Compton 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 Compton to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $608,600 median home), income ($69,728 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 2,202 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.