Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Las Vegas leads 14 of 21 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Memphis
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
83% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $18,266 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Higher rents — median is $1,356/mo
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Memphis
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($139,600 vs $365,300)
Rent averages $306/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,356)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Vegas
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Las Vegas by $18,266/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 7.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Median Income
$18,266
$66,356 vs $48,090/yr
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
83% lower
429.8 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Las Vegas
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 91.9°F
Memphis
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$226k less
$139,600 vs $365,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 ✓ Larger | 630,027 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 14 of 21 categories. Las Vegas wins 14 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 Las Vegas to Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $139,600 median home), income ($66,356 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Memphis, TN are about 1,418 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.