City comparison
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,470 in Arlington.
Safety is where Memphis and Arlington split most clearly. Arlington scores 363 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis and $1,470 in Arlington.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and Arlington wins on the job market and safety. 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
Memphis and Arlington are 438 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,470 a month in Arlington, up $289 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $75,171 in Arlington, up $23,435 (45%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 132 in Arlington, down 363 points (73%).
The move
Arlington and Memphis are 438 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $289 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $51,736 in Memphis, down $23,435 (31%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 495 in Memphis, up 363 points (275%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Memphis rent is 20% cheaper than Arlington
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Arlington
$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,470 in Arlington, 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 $3,468, 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 Arlington.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
45% higher
Arlington's median income is 45% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Arlington
Winner$75,171
Median household income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 45% higher in Arlington (about $23,435 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, Arlington 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
73% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 73% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% lower in Arlington. 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, Arlington 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
Memphis and Arlington are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Arlington
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington sits near 67°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
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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Arlington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 45% higher here ($75,171). Start with Arlington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 73% lower than Memphis (132 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.
Bottom line
Memphis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (11/100 safety vs 52/100 in Arlington). That 41-point spread matters more than the $289 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Arlington's $1,470, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,470 in Arlington.
Pick Arlington when you want the stronger safety signal (52/100). Otherwise, Memphis's case rests on a Memphis ZIP you trust at $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Arlington when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Arlington, plus other cities in TN and TX.
