Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Memphis leads 15 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (8.6%)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $127/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,177)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Trenton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
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
Trenton, NJ
Pros
59% less violent crime than Memphis
Homes cost $28k less ($111,200 vs $139,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 8.6%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Memphis
Median income trails Memphis by $3,646/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Income
$3,646
$48,090 vs $44,444/yr
Memphis
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
8.6% vs 10.2% unemployment
Memphis
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Violent Crime
59% lower
1025.9 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Trenton
Median Home Value
$28k less
$111,200 vs $139,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,177 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Memphis leads 15 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 15 and Trenton wins 7. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $111,200 median home), income ($48,090 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Trenton, NJ are about 902 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.