Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Philadelphia leads 11 of 20 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
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $76k less ($139,600 vs $215,500)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Rent averages $200/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,250)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 42°F
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Philadelphia by $9,447/yr
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $9,447 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Memphis
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$76k less
$139,600 vs $215,500
Philadelphia
Median Income
$9,447
$57,537 vs $48,090/yr
Philadelphia
Violent Crime
64% lower
908.7 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $215,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $57,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 230⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 239⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 50.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 11 of 20 categories. Memphis wins 9 and Philadelphia wins 11. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $215,500 median home), income ($48,090 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Philadelphia, PA are about 879 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.