Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Lakeland leads 15 of 22 categories
Lakeland
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,290 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Memphis
Tennessee
7
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.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
98% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,200 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 51°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Memphis
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $68k less ($139,600 vs $207,800)
Rent averages $167/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,217)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakeland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakeland by $10,200/yr
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakeland
Median Income
$10,200
$58,290 vs $48,090/yr
Lakeland
Violent Crime
98% lower
56.0 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Lakeland
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Memphis
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$68k less
$139,600 vs $207,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 15 of 22 categories. Lakeland wins 15 and Memphis wins 7. 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 Lakeland to Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $139,600 median home), income ($58,290 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and Memphis, TN are about 678 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.