Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia leads 11 of 21 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
Visalia
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($139,600 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $239/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,289)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Visalia
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Visalia by $27,568/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 5.6%)
Visalia, CA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $27,568 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Memphis
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 101.3 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$177k less
$139,600 vs $316,600
Visalia
Median Income
$27,568
$75,658 vs $48,090/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
83% lower
435.3 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Visalia
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,289 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 55.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Visalia leads 11 of 21 categories. Memphis wins 10 and Visalia wins 11. 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $316,600 median home), income ($48,090 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Visalia, CA are about 1,643 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.