Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Salinas, 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
Salinas
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,250 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
162,783
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $434k less ($139,600 vs $573,600)
Rent averages $745/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,795)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Salinas
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Salinas by $36,160/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 5.0%)
Salinas, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,160 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $573,600
Higher rents — median is $1,795/mo
Violent crime (524.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Memphis
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
$434k less
$139,600 vs $573,600
Memphis
Summer Heat
21.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 70.7°F
Salinas
Median Income
$36,160
$84,250 vs $48,090/yr
Salinas
Violent Crime
79% lower
524.5 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Salinas
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Salinas, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $573,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,795⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $84,250 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% ✓ Higher | 3.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 24.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 15.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 62.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Alisal Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 62.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 70.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 12.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 162,783 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 31.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 29.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Salinas's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Memphis leads 12 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 12 and Salinas 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 Salinas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $573,600 median home), income ($48,090 vs $84,250), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Salinas, CA are about 1,768 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.