City comparison
No. Baltimore's crime index is 338 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 428 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,331 in Baltimore.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Memphis and Baltimore. Memphis averages 68°F while Baltimore averages 55°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,181 versus $1,331.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Baltimore pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Baltimore has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Baltimore are 792 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, up $150 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $62,177 in Baltimore, up $10,441 (20%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 338 in Baltimore, down 157 points (32%).
The move
Baltimore and Memphis are 792 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $150 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $51,736 in Memphis, down $10,441 (17%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 495 in Memphis, up 157 points (46%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Baltimore, MD
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Baltimore? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Memphis rent is 11% cheaper than Baltimore
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Baltimore
$1,331/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,331 in Baltimore, so Memphis is 11% 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 $1,800, 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 Baltimore.
Planning to buy in Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Baltimore's median income is 20% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Baltimore
Winner$62,177
Median household income is $62,177 in Baltimore versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Baltimore (about $10,441 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, Baltimore 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
32% lower crime
Baltimore's crime index is 32% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Baltimore
Winner338 (100 = avg)
Baltimore's crime index is 338 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Baltimore. 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, Baltimore 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
39% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 39% more comfortable than Baltimore
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Baltimore
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis scores 39% 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 Baltimore if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% 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.
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Baltimore on this page's weather index by 39%. Baltimore may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Baltimore is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($62,177). Start with Baltimore if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Baltimore is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Memphis (338 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Baltimore: Baltimore scores 23/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $1,331 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 12 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (23/100 in Baltimore vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $62,177 in Baltimore versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Pick Baltimore when you want the stronger safety signal (23/100). Otherwise, Memphis's case rests on a Memphis ZIP you trust at $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Baltimore, plus other cities in TN and MD.
