Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 15 of 23 categories
Hemet
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,167 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
90,945 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Homes cost $331k less ($277,200 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $544/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,901)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $65,266/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 3.2%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $65,266 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Hemet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 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)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Median Home Value
$331k less
$277,200 vs $608,600
Hemet
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 91.1°F
Mount Pleasant
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.9 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$65,266
$115,167 vs $49,901/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
70% lower
128.4 vs 424.8 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 90,945 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 17.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Mount Pleasant is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 15 of 23 categories. Hemet wins 8 and Mount Pleasant wins 15. 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 Hemet to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $608,600 median home), income ($49,901 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 2,134 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.