Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 13 of 23 categories
Irvine
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,167
Violent Crime Index
34
Population
90,945
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irvine, CA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Mount Pleasant
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Households earn $7,781 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Homes cost $417k less ($608,600 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $848/mo less ($1,901 vs $2,749)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $7,781/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Median Income
$7,781
$122,948 vs $115,167/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
35% lower
84.0 vs 128.4 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Mount Pleasant
Median Home Value
$417k less
$608,600 vs $1,025,700
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Mount Pleasant
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, 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 | $1,025,700⚠ High | $608,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High | $1,901⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 ✓ Higher | $115,167 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 43 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 34 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 65.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine'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 13 of 23 categories. Irvine wins 10 and Mount Pleasant wins 13. 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 Irvine to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $608,600 median home), income ($122,948 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 2,179 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.