Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 15 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
15
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.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $458k less ($150,800 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $881/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,901)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $57,752/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $57,752 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Independence
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$458k less
$150,800 vs $608,600
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$57,752
$115,167 vs $57,415/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
78% lower
128.4 vs 571.2 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Mount Pleasant
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 17.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Independence is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 15 of 23 categories. Independence 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 Independence to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $608,600 median home), income ($57,415 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 918 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.