Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Memphis leads 12 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($139,600 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $503/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,553)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Rialto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (8.6%)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Rialto by $32,660/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
Rialto, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,660 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Memphis
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Memphis
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$279k less
$139,600 vs $418,300
Memphis
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
8.6% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$32,660
$80,750 vs $48,090/yr
Rialto
Violent Crime
74% lower
641.7 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Memphis leads 12 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 12 and Rialto wins 10. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $418,300 median home), income ($48,090 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Rialto, CA are about 1,556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.