Ten Facts to Know Living in Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant is a sought-after community for homebuyers because of its location, schools, extensive variety of homes, and high level of amenities.

Just 22 minutes from downtown Charleston, the town of Mount Pleasant sits east of Charleston. To its south lies Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms. The Wando River forms Mount Pleasant’s northern border.

Homes for sale in Mount Pleasant cover a wide range of price points and styles. Homebuyers can choose from condos, townhouses, new construction, buildable lots, subdivision homes, and gated communities.

As you look for homes in the Charleston area, here are ten facts to know about Mount Pleasant.

1. Mount Pleasant is the Fourth-largest City in the State by Population.

A 2020 population of about 95,000 makes Mount Pleasant the fourth largest municipality in South Carolina. Only Charleston, Columbia, and North Charleston are more populous.

Mount Pleasant’s population increased by about 40percent since the 2010 U.S. Census. The town’s largest growth spurt, however, came after Hurricane Hugo, which devastated much of the Charleston area when it made landfall on neighboring Sullivan’s Island in 1989.

Considered the worst single natural disaster to strike South Carolina, Hurricane Hugo delivered 140 mph winds, storm surges as high as 20 feet, and $5.9 billion in state property damages.

As with many communities affected by Hugo, Mount Pleasant experienced a period of growth due to hurricane recovery and rebuilding efforts. Thirty-two years after Hugo, Mount Pleasant today enjoys a well-developed infrastructure that attracts young professionals, families, and a diverse population.

2. Mount Pleasant Public Schools Are Part of the Charleston County School District (CCSD).

Charleston County School District (CCSD) is the second-largest school system in South Carolina, serving about 49,000 students in 88 schools.

Sixteen of those schools make up CCSD’s District 2 in Mount Pleasant. Use this link to see a complete list of CCSD District 2 schools in Mount Pleasant.

Use our Mount Pleasant school district search page to find homes near these District 2 schools.

3. The Old Village is the Oldest Neighborhood.

As a town, Mount Pleasant has a history that dates back to 1680 when the first European settlers arrived there.

Mount Pleasant’s oldest neighborhood is known as the Old Village. Officially designated as the Old Village Historic District, this 37-block area is bounded by Shem Creek to the north, Whilden Street to the east, and Charleston Harbor to the west.

Predominantly residential, the Old Village is home to Mount Pleasant’s oldest home. Built in 1755, the Hibben House is located on 111 Hibben Street. 

Other Old Village landmarks include Alhambra Hall, the Pitt Street Bridge, and the Pitt Street Pharmacy. 

4. The Ravenel Bridge Connects Mount Pleasant to Charleston.

Mount Pleasant residents can reach downtown Charleston via the Ravenal Bridge over the Cooper River. Opened in 2005, the Ravenal Bridge replaced two earlier bridges that had become functionally obsolete.

The diamond-shaped towers and fan-like cables of the Ravenal Bridge create a distinctive landmark that can be seen from various points in Mount Pleasant.

Residents can get a spectacular up-close look at the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park and the Mount Pleasant Pier. 

5. The Ben Sawyer Bridge Connects Mount Pleasant to Sullivan’s Island.

Mount Pleasant is connected to the beaches of Sullivan’s Island by the Ben Sawyer Bridge, which spans the Intracoastal Waterway.

A swing bridge, the Ben Sawyer opens on its central axis to allow for boat traffic that’s too tall to clear the bridge.

Hurricane Hugo left the Ben Sawyer Bridge tilted on its axis like a seesaw, with one end in the water and the other end in the air. The Ben Sawyer Bridge was successfully repaired after the storm.

6. The Island of Palms Connector Links Mount Pleasant and the Isle of Palms.

Longtime Mount Pleasant residents remember when the only way to reach the Isle of Palms by car was over the Ben Sawyer Bridge on Sullivan’s Island and then over the Breach Inlet Bridge that connects Sullivan’s to the Isle of Palms.

That changed in 1993 when the Isle of Palms Connector opened as the first fixed span bridge to connect IOP to the mainland.

The connector bridge makes up most of State Highway 517 and extends between U.S. Route 17 in Mount Pleasant and Palm Boulevard on the Isle of Palms. It provides a key route for getting to IOP’s wide, pristine beaches.

7. Mount Pleasant is Home to the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point.

Patriots Point is a naval and maritime museum in Mount Pleasant that is home to one of Charleston’s major tourist destinations, the storied USS Yorktown aircraft carrier.

Now the centerpiece of the museum and one of Charleston’s most well-known landmarks, the USS Yorktown is a World War II aircraft carrier commissioned in 1943. The Yorktown saw action on the Pacific front and played a key role in the Battle of Midway.

Visitors can tour the flight deck and hangar bay of the Yorktown to see more than 20 aircraft in service from World War II to the Persian Gulf War.

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum is a sprawling complex where visitors can tour the USS Laffey destroyer, the USS Clagamore submarine, both historic vessels in their own right. The Patriots Point Vietnam Experience Exhibit features Vietnam-era helicopters and a river patrol boat.

8. Mount Pleasant is Home to 300+ Restaurants.

Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant has long been home to Charleston crab boats and destination seafood restaurants.

But along with the post-Hugo surge in Mount Pleasant’s population came a wave of commercial development that included new restaurants, cafes, and eateries.

Today Mount Pleasant is home to more than 300 restaurants that span of range of cuisines from southern fare to ethnic flavors. As this map shows, no neighborhood in Mount Pleasant is far from a wide selection of dining options.

9. Mount Pleasant Has Homes for Sale at All Price Points.

Browse homes for sale in Mount Pleasant and you’ll see that homes are available at all price points. These include single-family detached homes as well as townhomes and attached condos. Mount Pleasant has rental homes on the market, too.

You can use our market data to track real estate trends in Mount Pleasant. Subscribing to our market reports takes just seconds and gives you an up-to-date snapshot on average sale price, number of properties for sale, average sale price per square foot, and other key housing metrics.

Another good source for market data is the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® Market Reports. 

According to the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS®, the median sales price for a single-family detached home in Lower Mount Pleasant was $688,600 in September 2021. The median sales price for a townhouse or attached condo was $310,000 for the same month. 

The median sales price for a single-family detached home in Upper Mount Pleasant was $672,608 in September 2021, as reported by the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS®. The median sales price for a townhouse or attached condo was $426,250.

10. It is Home to Some of Charleston’s Best Parks, Recreation Areas, and Cultural Sites.

Living in Mount Pleasant puts residents into a community rich in recreational opportunities. 

Residents can choose from golf courses, nature adventures, county parks, city parks, and historic sites.

Standout park destinations include Palmetto Islands County Park with its 943-acre tropical setting, Memorial Waterfront Park with its spectacular views of Charleston Harbor, and Shem Creek Park with its 2,200-foot-long boardwalk across water and salt marshes.

Mount Pleasant offers several world-class public golf courses, including Patriot Point Links and Charleston National Golf Club.

Two of Charleston’s highly rated nature adventure companies are based in Mount Pleasant. Coastal Expeditions offers kayak and boat tours of the Kiawah River, Middleton Place, Shem Creek, and Isle of Palms. Nature Adventures features kayak and stand-up paddleboard tours of Shem Creek.

We’ve only just given the highlights about what makes Mount Pleasant a great choice for homebuyers. Contact one of agents to start your home search today.