Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Riverside leads 11 of 21 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
Riverside
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $346k less ($139,600 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $661/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $35,358/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 6.1%)
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,358 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) 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
$346k less
$139,600 vs $485,500
Riverside
Median Income
$35,358
$83,448 vs $48,090/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
76% lower
589.7 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Riverside
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Riverside, 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 | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 316,076 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Riverside leads 11 of 21 categories. Memphis wins 10 and Riverside 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $485,500 median home), income ($48,090 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Riverside, CA are about 1,558 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.