Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Memphis leads 13 of 20 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($139,600 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $262/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,312)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Worcester by $14,921/yr
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.6%)
Worcester, MA
Pros
99% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $14,921 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Memphis
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$166k less
$139,600 vs $305,600
Memphis
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$14,921
$63,011 vs $48,090/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
99% lower
16.5 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Worcester
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Memphis leads 13 of 20 categories. Memphis wins 13 and Worcester wins 7. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $305,600 median home), income ($48,090 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Worcester, MA are about 1,094 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.