Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Hampton leads 12 of 21 categories
Hampton
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
Memphis
Tennessee
9
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.
Hampton, VA
Pros
90% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $16,340 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Memphis
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $80k less ($139,600 vs $219,800)
Rent averages $205/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,255)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Hampton
Cons
Median income trails Hampton by $16,340/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 6.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Median Income
$16,340
$64,430 vs $48,090/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
90% lower
247.6 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Hampton
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Memphis
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$80k less
$139,600 vs $219,800
Memphis
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Hampton leads 12 of 21 categories. Hampton wins 12 and Memphis wins 9. 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 Hampton to Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $139,600 median home), income ($64,430 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Memphis, TN are about 774 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.