Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mount Pleasant, SC
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 15 of 22 categories
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,167 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
90,945
Toms River
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
92,827 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $23,155 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($356,100 vs $608,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $309/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,901)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $23,155/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.2%)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Mount Pleasant
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$23,155
$115,167 vs $92,012/yr
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Mount Pleasant
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Home Value
$253k less
$356,100 vs $608,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mount Pleasant, SC | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $608,600⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,167 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 | 43 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 35 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.4% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.7% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.3" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,945 | 92,827 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 42.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mount Pleasant's cost of living index is 105.9 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Mount Pleasant is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 15 of 22 categories. Mount Pleasant wins 15 and Toms River 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 Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($608,600 vs $356,100 median home), income ($115,167 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mount Pleasant, SC and Toms River, NJ are about 588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.