Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Livonia, MI
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Livonia leads 13 of 22 categories
Livonia
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Memphis
Tennessee
9
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.
Livonia, MI
Pros
Households earn $44,368 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Memphis
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($139,600 vs $249,000)
Rent averages $185/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,235)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 30°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Livonia
Cons
Median income trails Livonia by $44,368/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Livonia
Median Income
$44,368
$92,458 vs $48,090/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
91% lower
228.1 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Livonia
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Memphis
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$109k less
$139,600 vs $249,000
Memphis
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 82.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Livonia, MI | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $249,000 | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,458 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.3% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Livonia Public Schools School District | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.4°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.9°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.0" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,928 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.2 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Livonia's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Livonia leads 13 of 22 categories. Livonia wins 13 and Memphis wins 9. 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 Livonia to Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($249,000 vs $139,600 median home), income ($92,458 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Livonia, MI and Memphis, TN are about 616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.