Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 12 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $74k less ($139,600 vs $213,300)
Rent averages $175/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,225)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Portsmouth
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Portsmouth by $9,064/yr
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.6%)
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $9,064 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Memphis
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
$74k less
$139,600 vs $213,300
Memphis
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Median Income
$9,064
$57,154 vs $48,090/yr
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
70% lower
752.4 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Portsmouth
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 50.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 12 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 10 and Portsmouth wins 12. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $213,300 median home), income ($48,090 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Portsmouth, VA are about 770 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.