Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chicago
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ 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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
78% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $23,583 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Memphis
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $165k less ($139,600 vs $304,500)
Rent averages $264/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,314)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $23,583/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$23,583
$71,673 vs $48,090/yr
Chicago
Violent Crime
78% lower
539.8 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Memphis
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$165k less
$139,600 vs $304,500
Memphis
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 630,027 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 46.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chicago 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 Chicago to Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $139,600 median home), income ($71,673 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Memphis, TN are about 481 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.