Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 17 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
17
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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $424k less ($184,200 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $858/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,901)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $66,858/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $66,858 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Knoxville
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$424k less
$184,200 vs $608,600
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$66,858
$115,167 vs $48,309/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
83% lower
128.4 vs 740.3 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 54.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 17 of 22 categories. Knoxville 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 Knoxville to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $608,600 median home), income ($48,309 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 319 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.