Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale 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
Sunnyvale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $1541k less ($139,600 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1940/mo less ($1,050 vs $2,990)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $126,416/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 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $126,416 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/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
$1541k less
$139,600 vs $1,680,700
Memphis
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$126,416
$174,506 vs $48,090/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
90% lower
244.5 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Sunnyvale, 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 | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 13 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 9 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($48,090 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,785 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.