Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Hemet leads 12 of 22 categories
Hemet
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,651
Memphis
Tennessee
10
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.
Hemet, CA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Memphis
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Memphis
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 8.6%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($139,600 vs $277,200)
Rent averages $307/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Hemet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (8.6%)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Hemet
Median Income
$1,811
$49,901 vs $48,090/yr
Hemet
Violent Crime
83% lower
424.8 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Hemet
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 91.9°F
Memphis
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$138k less
$139,600 vs $277,200
Memphis
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
8.6% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hemet leads 12 of 22 categories. Hemet wins 12 and Memphis wins 10. 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 Hemet to Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $139,600 median home), income ($49,901 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Memphis, TN are about 1,539 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.