Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Memphis
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $483k less ($139,600 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $952/mo less ($1,050 vs $2,002)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $40,625/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 6.3%)
Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,625 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Memphis
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$483k less
$139,600 vs $622,900
Memphis
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Income
$40,625
$88,715 vs $48,090/yr
Vista
Violent Crime
87% lower
316.4 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Vista
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 11.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Memphis wins 11 and Vista 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $622,900 median home), income ($48,090 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Vista, CA are about 1,560 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.