Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mount Pleasant, SC
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 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 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
90,945
West Palm Beach
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $51,123 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 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)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($324,800 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $287/mo less ($1,614 vs $1,901)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $51,123/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mount Pleasant
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$51,123
$115,167 vs $64,044/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
78% lower
128.4 vs 575.8 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$284k less
$324,800 vs $608,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mount Pleasant, SC | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $608,600⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,167 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.4% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.7% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.2°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.3" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,945 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 40.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mount Pleasant's cost of living index is 105.9 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Mount Pleasant is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 16 of 23 categories. Mount Pleasant wins 16 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($608,600 vs $324,800 median home), income ($115,167 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mount Pleasant, SC and West Palm Beach, FL are about 419 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.