Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mount Pleasant, SC
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,167 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
90,945
Sandy Springs
Georgia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,303
Violent Crime Index
37
Population
107,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $21,864 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 52°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $231/mo less ($1,670 vs $1,901)
Homes cost $52k less ($556,300 vs $608,600)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $21,864/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$21,864
$115,167 vs $93,303/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
8% lower
128.4 vs 139.2 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.7% unemployment
Sandy Springs
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Sandy Springs
Median Home Value
$52k less
$556,300 vs $608,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mount Pleasant, SC | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.9⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $608,600⚠ High | $556,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High | $1,670⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,167 ✓ Higher | $93,303 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 37 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.4% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.7% ✓ Higher | 97.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer | 51.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.3" | 53.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,945 | 107,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mount Pleasant's cost of living index is 105.9 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Sandy Springs is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories. Mount Pleasant wins 16 and Sandy Springs wins 7. 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 Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($608,600 vs $556,300 median home), income ($115,167 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mount Pleasant, SC and Sandy Springs, GA are about 271 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.