Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 13 of 22 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
St. Louis
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
298,018
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $35k less ($139,600 vs $174,100)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 41°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Louis
Cons
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 5.4%)
Median income trails St. Louis by $4,851/yr
St. Louis, MO
Pros
45% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Rent averages $112/mo less ($938 vs $1,050)
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,851 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Memphis
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$35k less
$139,600 vs $174,100
St. Louis
Median Income
$4,851
$52,941 vs $48,090/yr
St. Louis
Violent Crime
45% lower
1367.1 vs 2501.3 per 100k
St. Louis
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $174,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $52,941 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 325⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 360⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 272⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 11.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 298,018 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 13 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 9 and St. Louis wins 13. 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $174,100 median home), income ($48,090 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and St. Louis, MO are about 244 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.