City comparison
Yes. Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 179 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
Safety is where Dallas and Memphis split most clearly. Dallas scores 307 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,181 in Memphis.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on the job market and safety and Memphis wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Memphis at $1,181 average has pockets that run $981 and others at $1,581: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Dallas and Memphis are 420 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $291 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $51,736 in Memphis, down $18,782 (27%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 495 in Memphis, up 307 points (163%).
The move
Memphis and Dallas are 420 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $291 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $70,518 in Dallas, up $18,782 (36%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 188 in Dallas, down 307 points (62%).
Dallas, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Dallas and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Memphis rent is 20% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Memphis is 20% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,492, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Memphis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Dallas.
Planning to buy in Dallas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
36% higher
Dallas's median income is 36% higher than Memphis
Dallas
Winner$70,518
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Dallas (about $18,782 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Dallas is the stronger labor market on paper. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
62% lower crime
Dallas's crime index is 62% lower than Memphis
Dallas
Winner188 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% lower in Dallas. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Dallas is the easier city. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Memphis are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis
70°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Memphis averages about 70°F (79°F highs). Dallas sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Memphis sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Dallas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 36% higher here ($70,518). Start with Dallas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 62% lower than Memphis (188 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Memphis
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Dallas scores 41/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis. Rent is $1,472/month in Dallas and $1,181/month in Memphis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Dallas's $1,472, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,472 in Dallas.
Dallas is ahead on safety (41/100 vs 11/100); Memphis is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,181/month rent plus $51,736 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Memphis, plus other cities in TX and TN.
