City comparison
Yes. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Memphis split most clearly. Jacksonville scores 345 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,181 in Memphis.
This is a genuine split. Jacksonville 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
Jacksonville and Memphis are 590 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $284 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $51,736 in Memphis, down $18,136 (26%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 495 in Memphis, up 345 points (230%).
The move
Memphis and Jacksonville are 590 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $284 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $69,872 in Jacksonville, up $18,136 (35%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 150 in Jacksonville, down 345 points (70%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Memphis rent is 19% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Memphis is 19% 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 $3,408, 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 Jacksonville.
Planning to buy in Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
35% higher
Jacksonville's median income is 35% higher than Memphis
Jacksonville
Winner$69,872
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Jacksonville (about $18,136 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, Jacksonville 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
70% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 70% lower than Memphis
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 70% lower in Jacksonville. 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, Jacksonville 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
Jacksonville and Memphis are about even on typical weather.
Jacksonville
79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis
70°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 79°F (86°F highs); Memphis averages about 70°F (79°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 79°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
Jacksonville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 35% higher here ($69,872). Start with Jacksonville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 70% lower than Memphis (150 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 19% 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Jacksonville leads on safety (48/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Jacksonville's $1,465, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville is ahead on safety (48/100 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
Ready to move to Jacksonville?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Jacksonville when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Memphis, plus other cities in FL and TN.
