Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Hesperia
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,878
Memphis
Tennessee
11
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.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
79% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $19,608 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $337,600
Higher rents — median is $1,436/mo
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Memphis
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($139,600 vs $337,600)
Rent averages $386/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,436)
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Hesperia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (8.6%)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Hesperia by $19,608/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
Hesperia
Median Income
$19,608
$67,698 vs $48,090/yr
Hesperia
Violent Crime
79% lower
519.6 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Hesperia
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°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
$198k less
$139,600 vs $337,600
Memphis
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
8.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, CA | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $337,600⚠ High | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia'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, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Hesperia 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 Hesperia to Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $139,600 median home), income ($67,698 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Memphis, TN are about 1,548 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.