Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 14 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Sacramento
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $311k less ($139,600 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $542/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,592)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $30,864/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 6.3%)
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,864 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Memphis
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$311k less
$139,600 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Median Income
$30,864
$78,954 vs $48,090/yr
Sacramento
Violent Crime
70% lower
754.9 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Sacramento
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 523,600 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 14 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 8 and Sacramento wins 14. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $450,500 median home), income ($48,090 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Sacramento, CA are about 1,750 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.