Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 17 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
321,276 ✓ 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.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $361k less ($247,900 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $836/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,901)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $49,080/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $49,080 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$361k less
$247,900 vs $608,600
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$49,080
$115,167 vs $66,087/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
51% lower
128.4 vs 262.0 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Mount Pleasant
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 17 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 6 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $608,600 median home), income ($66,087 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 444 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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