Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Renton 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
Renton
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $437k less ($139,600 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $814/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,864)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $44,202/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 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $44,202 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Memphis
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$437k less
$139,600 vs $576,800
Memphis
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$44,202
$92,292 vs $48,090/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
86% lower
339.2 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 44.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Renton leads 12 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 10 and Renton 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $576,800 median home), income ($48,090 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Renton, WA are about 1,860 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.