Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Boston
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Memphis
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $41,122 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Memphis
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $545k less ($139,600 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $931/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,981)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $41,122/yr
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
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$41,122
$89,212 vs $48,090/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
75% lower
627.9 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Boston
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Memphis
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$545k less
$139,600 vs $684,900
Memphis
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 630,027 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 46.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Boston wins 11 and Memphis wins 11. 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 Boston to Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $139,600 median home), income ($89,212 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Memphis, TN are about 1,134 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.