Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Vallejo leads 12 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $376k less ($139,600 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $844/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,894)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $38,022/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 7.0%)
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,022 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (7.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Memphis
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$376k less
$139,600 vs $515,500
Memphis
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Income
$38,022
$86,112 vs $48,090/yr
Vallejo
Violent Crime
70% lower
739.8 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Vallejo
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vallejo leads 12 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 10 and Vallejo wins 12. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $515,500 median home), income ($48,090 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Vallejo, CA are about 1,794 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.