Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 17 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
17
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.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Mount Pleasant
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $20,441 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Homes cost $329k less ($608,600 vs $937,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Rent averages $349/mo less ($1,901 vs $2,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $20,441/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$20,441
$135,608 vs $115,167/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
53% lower
60.6 vs 128.4 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Mount Pleasant
Median Home Value
$329k less
$608,600 vs $937,700
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Mount Pleasant
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $608,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,901⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $115,167 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 34 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Mount Pleasant is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 17 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 5 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 Kirkland to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $608,600 median home), income ($135,608 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 2,420 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.