Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Nashville-Davidson leads 13 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $212k less ($139,600 vs $351,400)
Rent averages $342/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,392)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Cons
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $23,238/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 4.6%)
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
55% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $23,238 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$212k less
$139,600 vs $351,400
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$23,238
$71,328 vs $48,090/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Violent Crime
55% lower
1124.1 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $71,328 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 263⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 296⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 54.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 4.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Nashville-Davidson leads 13 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 9 and Nashville-Davidson wins 13. 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 Memphis to Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $351,400 median home), income ($48,090 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 193 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.