Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 14 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $525k less ($139,600 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $1004/mo less ($1,050 vs $2,054)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $48,129/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 6.7%)
West Covina, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,129 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Memphis
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Memphis
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$525k less
$139,600 vs $664,500
West Covina
Median Income
$48,129
$96,219 vs $48,090/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
90% lower
239.3 vs 2501.3 per 100k
West Covina
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Covina leads 14 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 8 and West Covina wins 14. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $664,500 median home), income ($48,090 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and West Covina, CA are about 1,586 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.