Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaumont, TX
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Beaumont leads 15 of 22 categories
Beaumont
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,745 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
299⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,573
Memphis
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaumont, TX
Pros
55% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $5,655 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 51°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Memphis
Cons
Violent crime (1137.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3302.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Memphis, TN
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Beaumont by $5,655/yr
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaumont
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Beaumont
Median Income
$5,655
$53,745 vs $48,090/yr
Beaumont
Violent Crime
55% lower
1137.3 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Beaumont
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Memphis
Median Home Value
$11k less
$139,600 vs $150,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaumont, TX | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $150,400 | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $992 ✓ Lower | $1,050 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,745 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 6.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 242⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 299⚠ High ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.8% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BEAUMONT ISD | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.6°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 91.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.1" | 54.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,573 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaumont's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Beaumont is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Beaumont leads 15 of 22 categories. Beaumont wins 15 and Memphis 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 Beaumont to Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,400 vs $139,600 median home), income ($53,745 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaumont, TX and Memphis, TN are about 424 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.