Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Memphis leads 17 of 22 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
Memphis
Tennessee
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090 ✓ Higher
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
79% less violent crime than Memphis
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Memphis by $6,249/yr
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 8.6%)
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($139,600 vs $198,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (8.6%)
Households earn $6,249 more per year on average
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $104/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,154)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 37°F
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Violent Crime
79% lower
515.8 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Memphis
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Income
$6,249
$48,090 vs $41,841/yr
Memphis
Median Home Value
$59k less
$139,600 vs $198,900
Memphis
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
8.6% vs 10.6% unemployment
Memphis
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $48,090 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 46.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Memphis leads 17 of 22 categories. Hartford wins 5 and Memphis wins 17. 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 Hartford to Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $139,600 median home), income ($41,841 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Memphis, TN are about 1,040 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.