Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mount Pleasant, SC
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,167
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
90,945
Santa Clara
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
128,058 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Homes cost $832k less ($608,600 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $940/mo less ($1,901 vs $2,841)
29% less violent crime than Santa Clara
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.2%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $50,185/yr
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,185 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Mount Pleasant
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.9 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
29% lower
128.4 vs 182.0 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Median Home Value
$832k less
$608,600 vs $1,440,200
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.2% unemployment
Mount Pleasant
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$50,185
$165,352 vs $115,167/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mount Pleasant, SC | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $608,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,167 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.4% ✓ Higher | 64.6% |
| High School or Higher | 97.7% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.2°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.3" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,945 | 128,058 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mount Pleasant's cost of living index is 105.9 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Mount Pleasant is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories. Mount Pleasant wins 16 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($608,600 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($115,167 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mount Pleasant, SC and Santa Clara, CA are about 2,381 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.