Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Tallahassee, FL
🏆 Tallahassee leads 10 of 19 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
Tallahassee
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.3
Median Household Income
$52,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,259
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($139,600 vs $256,400)
Rent averages $115/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,165)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Tallahassee
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 6.5%)
Median income trails Tallahassee by $4,809/yr
Tallahassee, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.5%)
More college-educated — 49.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,809 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 51°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Memphis
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 95.3 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$117k less
$139,600 vs $256,400
Tallahassee
Median Income
$4,809
$52,899 vs $48,090/yr
Tallahassee
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Tallahassee, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.3 |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $256,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,165 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $52,899 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 49.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | LEON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 63.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" ✓ Drier | 57.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 198,259 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 27.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Tallahassee's 95.3 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Tallahassee leads 10 of 19 categories. Memphis wins 9 and Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $256,400 median home), income ($48,090 vs $52,899), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Tallahassee, FL are about 462 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.