Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mount Pleasant, SC
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 17 of 23 categories
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,167 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
90,945
San Marcos
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
94,360 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
42% less violent crime than San Marcos
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $120k less ($608,600 vs $728,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Households earn $15,754 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $15,754/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mount Pleasant
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$15,754
$115,167 vs $99,413/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
42% lower
128.4 vs 222.4 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Median Home Value
$120k less
$608,600 vs $728,800
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.2% unemployment
Mount Pleasant
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 87.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mount Pleasant, SC | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $608,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,167 ✓ Higher | $99,413 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 16.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.4% ✓ Higher | 41.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.7% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.2°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.3" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,945 | 94,360 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 61.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mount Pleasant's cost of living index is 105.9 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Mount Pleasant is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 17 of 23 categories. Mount Pleasant wins 17 and San Marcos wins 6. 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 Mount Pleasant to San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($608,600 vs $728,800 median home), income ($115,167 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mount Pleasant, SC and San Marcos, CA are about 2,151 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.