Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Memphis leads 13 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($139,600 vs $236,500)
Rent averages $352/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,402)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than New Haven
Cons
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
Median income trails New Haven by $6,215/yr
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 7.8%)
New Haven, CT
Pros
79% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (7.8%)
Households earn $6,215 more per year on average
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Memphis
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$97k less
$139,600 vs $236,500
Memphis
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Median Income
$6,215
$54,305 vs $48,090/yr
New Haven
Violent Crime
79% lower
534.8 vs 2501.3 per 100k
New Haven
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
7.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $236,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $54,305 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Memphis leads 13 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 13 and New Haven 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 Memphis to New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $236,500 median home), income ($48,090 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and New Haven, CT are about 1,017 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.