Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
16
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.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $475k less ($133,800 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $857/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,901)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $59,047/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $59,047 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 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 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$475k less
$133,800 vs $608,600
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$59,047
$115,167 vs $56,120/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
88% lower
128.4 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories. Kansas City 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 Kansas City to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $608,600 median home), income ($56,120 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 938 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.