Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Chandler leads 15 of 22 categories
Chandler
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618
Memphis
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Households earn $51,284 more per year on average
95% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Memphis
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($139,600 vs $423,900)
Rent averages $625/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,675)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Chandler
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Chandler by $51,284/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 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Median Income
$51,284
$99,374 vs $48,090/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
95% lower
133.4 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 91.9°F
Memphis
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 101.4 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$284k less
$139,600 vs $423,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chandler leads 15 of 22 categories. Chandler 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 Chandler to Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $139,600 median home), income ($99,374 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Memphis, TN are about 1,254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.