City comparison
Yes. Louisville's crime index is 209 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 207 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Louisville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,120 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Safety is where Louisville and Memphis split most clearly. Louisville scores 286 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,120 in Louisville and $1,181 in Memphis.
Louisville is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Memphis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Louisville is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Louisville has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Louisville and Memphis are 320 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $61 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $51,736 in Memphis, down $15,113 (23%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 495 in Memphis, up 286 points (137%).
The move
Memphis and Louisville are 320 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,120 a month in Louisville, down $61 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $66,849 in Louisville, up $15,113 (29%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 209 in Louisville, down 286 points (58%).
Louisville, KY
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 Louisville and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Louisville rent is 5% cheaper than Memphis
Louisville
Winner$1,120/mo
Memphis
$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,120 a month in Louisville versus $1,181 in Memphis, so Louisville is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $61, or $732 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Louisville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
29% higher
Louisville's median income is 29% higher than Memphis
Louisville
Winner$66,849
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $66,849 in Louisville versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Louisville (about $15,113 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, Louisville 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
58% lower crime
Louisville's crime index is 58% lower than Memphis
Louisville
Winner209 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Louisville's crime index is 209 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% lower in Louisville. 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, Louisville 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
33% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 33% more comfortable than Louisville
Louisville
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Louisville averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs). Louisville averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Memphis scores 33% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Louisville if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,120 a month. Choose Louisville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Louisville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 29% higher here ($66,849). Start with Louisville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Louisville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 58% lower than Memphis (209 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Louisville on this page's weather index by 33%. Louisville may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Louisville: Louisville scores 38/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $1,120 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 27 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (38/100 in Louisville vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $66,849 in Louisville versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Louisville clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Memphis deserves a serious look only when you already know the Memphis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Louisville and Memphis, plus other cities in KY and TN.
