Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 17 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ 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.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($316,600 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $605/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,901)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $40,457/yr
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
79% less violent crime than Durham
Households earn $40,457 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$292k less
$316,600 vs $608,600
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$40,457
$115,167 vs $74,710/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
79% lower
128.4 vs 619.2 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.3% unemployment
Mount Pleasant
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ 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 | A- (115) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Durham is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 17 of 23 categories. Durham 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 Durham to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $608,600 median home), income ($74,710 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 226 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.