Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara leads 12 of 21 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $1301k less ($139,600 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1791/mo less ($1,050 vs $2,841)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $117,262/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%)
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $117,262 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Memphis
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$1301k less
$139,600 vs $1,440,200
Memphis
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$117,262
$165,352 vs $48,090/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
93% lower
182.0 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 12 of 21 categories. Memphis wins 9 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($48,090 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Santa Clara, CA are about 1,782 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.