Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Temecula leads 15 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Temecula
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $465k less ($139,600 vs $604,300)
Rent averages $1172/mo less ($1,050 vs $2,222)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Temecula
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Temecula by $63,791/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 5.8%)
Temecula, CA
Pros
Households earn $63,791 more per year on average
94% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $604,300
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Memphis
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$465k less
$139,600 vs $604,300
Memphis
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 87.2°F
Temecula
Median Income
$63,791
$111,881 vs $48,090/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
94% lower
151.5 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Temecula
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $604,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 40 ✓ 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) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 15.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 110,114 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Temecula leads 15 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 7 and Temecula wins 15. 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $604,300 median home), income ($48,090 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Temecula, CA are about 1,550 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.