Isle of Palms, SC vs Mount Pleasant, SC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Isle of PalmsIsle of Palms, SC | Mount PleasantMount Pleasant, SC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Great | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Very Safe | Very Safe | Same |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Exposed | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 981 people per square mile, Isle of Palms, SC and Mount Pleasant, SC differ sharply in population density, with Mount Pleasant at 1,866 per square mile, 90% higher. 2023 Census figures show Mount Pleasant's population of 92,662 is 88,312 larger than Isle of Palms' 4,350. The median age in Isle of Palms is 54.2, placing it in the 96th percentile, while Mount Pleasant's median age of 42.8 is in the 79th percentile, making Isle of Palms 11.4 years older on average. Average household size is 2.2 in Isle of Palms and 2.4 in Mount Pleasant, an 8% difference.
Violent crime rates also diverge: Isle of Palms reports 228 violent crimes per 100,000 people, 74% higher than Mount Pleasant's 131, placing Isle of Palms in the 51st percentile and Mount Pleasant in the 26th. The poverty rate in Isle of Palms is 1.8%, in the 2nd percentile, while Mount Pleasant's 5.8% is 4.0 percentage points higher, in the 17th percentile. Average commute times are 27.2 minutes in Isle of Palms and 25.2 minutes in Mount Pleasant, a 2-minute difference, with Isle of Palms in the 75th percentile and Mount Pleasant in the 63rd.
Both places share identical air quality index scores of 43, healthcare access scores of 100/100, and an F grade for national disaster risk. Unemployment and job growth are the same at 3.3% and +1.6%, respectively. The cost of living index for Isle of Palms is 336, 69% higher than Mount Pleasant's 199, with median home values of $1,192,200 versus $667,100.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Mount Pleasant, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 33698th pctl | 19991st pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Isle of Palms, SC 336; Mount Pleasant, SC 199; Isle of Palms is 69% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $1,192,20097th pctl | $667,10090th pctl | Median home value: Isle of Palms, SC $1,192,200; Mount Pleasant, SC $667,100; Isle of Palms is 79% higher. |
| Median rent | $3,23698th pctl | $2,02692nd pctl | Median rent: Isle of Palms, SC $3,236; Mount Pleasant, SC $2,026; Isle of Palms is 60% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $148,02994th pctl | $121,36489th pctl | Median household income: Isle of Palms, SC $148,029; Mount Pleasant, SC $121,364; Isle of Palms is 22% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $231,62398th pctl | $129,60593rd pctl | Comfortable income (single): Isle of Palms, SC $231,623; Mount Pleasant, SC $129,605; Isle of Palms is 79% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $340,48698th pctl | $190,52093rd pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Isle of Palms, SC $340,486; Mount Pleasant, SC $190,520; Isle of Palms is 79% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Stretched | Housing affordability: Isle of Palms, SC D-; Mount Pleasant, SC C+; Mount Pleasant is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Mount Pleasant needs about
$44,400
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 336 vs 199). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Mount Pleasant, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.3%34th pctl | 3.3%34th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.6%67th pctl | +1.6%67th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $119,41597th pctl | $69,71992nd pctl | Per-capita income: Isle of Palms, SC $119,415; Mount Pleasant, SC $69,719; Isle of Palms is 71% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 1.8%2nd pctl | 5.8%17th pctl | Poverty rate: Isle of Palms, SC 1.8%; Mount Pleasant, SC 5.8%; Mount Pleasant is 4.0 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 27.2 min75th pctl | 25.2 min63rd pctl | Average commute: Isle of Palms, SC 27.2 min; Mount Pleasant, SC 25.2 min; Isle of Palms is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 26.5%93rd pctl | 23.2%89th pctl | Work from home: Isle of Palms, SC 26.5%; Mount Pleasant, SC 23.2%; Isle of Palms is 3.3 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Strong | Strong | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Mount Pleasant, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 22851st pctl | 13126th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Isle of Palms, SC 228; Mount Pleasant, SC 131; Isle of Palms is 74% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 93530th pctl | 1,01833rd pctl | Property crime per 100k: Isle of Palms, SC 935; Mount Pleasant, SC 1,018; Mount Pleasant is 9% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Very Safe | About the same |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Mount Pleasant, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort, broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in South Carolina, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See South Carolina →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Mount Pleasant, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 632 mi78th pctl | 631 mi78th pctl | About the same |
| Target proximity | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 697 mi90th pctl | 693 mi90th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 6 mi7th pctl | 1 mi2nd pctl | Distance to coastline: Isle of Palms, SC 6 mi; Mount Pleasant, SC 1 mi; Isle of Palms is 5.6 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Mount Pleasant, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,35017th pctl | 92,66287th pctl | Population: Isle of Palms, SC 4,350; Mount Pleasant, SC 92,662; Mount Pleasant is 88,312 larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 98127th pctl | 1,86657th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Isle of Palms, SC 981; Mount Pleasant, SC 1,866; Mount Pleasant is 90% higher. |
| Median age | 54.296th pctl | 42.879th pctl | Median age: Isle of Palms, SC 54.2; Mount Pleasant, SC 42.8; Isle of Palms is 11.4 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.7%94th pctl | 66.2%92nd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Isle of Palms, SC 69.7%; Mount Pleasant, SC 66.2%; Isle of Palms is 3.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.217th pctl | 2.438th pctl | Average household size: Isle of Palms, SC 2.2; Mount Pleasant, SC 2.4; Mount Pleasant is 8% larger. |
More about Isle of Palms's residents · Mount Pleasant's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | Isle of PalmsIsle of Palms, SC | Mount PleasantMount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+6 | R+6 |
| 2024 presidential | R +13.0 pts | R +13.0 pts |
Full politics data: Isle of Palms · Mount Pleasant
Moving between Isle of Palms and Mount Pleasant
- Median rent: $3,236 in Isle of Palms, $2,026 in Mount Pleasant
- Median home value: $1,192,200 in Isle of Palms, $667,100 in Mount Pleasant
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 336 in Isle of Palms, 199 in Mount Pleasant
- Median household income: $148,029 in Isle of Palms, $121,364 in Mount Pleasant
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $340,486 in Isle of Palms, $190,520 in Mount Pleasant
- Unemployment: 3.3% in Isle of Palms, 3.3% in Mount Pleasant
- Average commute: 27.2 min in Isle of Palms, 25.2 min in Mount Pleasant
- Violent crime per 100k: 228 in Isle of Palms, 131 in Mount Pleasant
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More places like Isle of Palms and Mount Pleasant
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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