Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 15 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
15
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.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $469k less ($139,600 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $851/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,901)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $67,077/yr
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $67,077 more per year on average
95% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Memphis
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$469k less
$139,600 vs $608,600
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$67,077
$115,167 vs $48,090/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
95% lower
128.4 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 54.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 15 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 7 and Mount Pleasant wins 15. 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 Memphis to Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $608,600 median home), income ($48,090 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 600 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.