Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson 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
Tucson
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$52,049 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($139,600 vs $218,200)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 100°F
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 Tucson by $3,959/yr
Tucson, AZ
Pros
76% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Households earn $3,959 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$79k less
$139,600 vs $218,200
Tucson
Median Income
$3,959
$52,049 vs $48,090/yr
Tucson
Violent Crime
76% lower
588.8 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Tucson
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Tucson
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 94.3 |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $218,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $52,049 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 541,033 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tucson leads 15 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 7 and Tucson 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $218,200 median home), income ($48,090 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Tucson, AZ are about 1,217 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.