City comparison
No. Cincinnati's crime index is 231 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 237 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Safety is where Memphis and Cincinnati split most clearly. Cincinnati scores 264 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 $1,001 in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Cincinnati has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Cincinnati are 410 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $180 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $52,909 in Cincinnati, up $1,173 (2%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 231 in Cincinnati, down 264 points (53%).
The move
Cincinnati and Memphis are 410 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $180 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $51,736 in Memphis, down $1,173 (2%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 495 in Memphis, up 264 points (114%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cincinnati, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Cincinnati? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 15% cheaper than Memphis
Memphis
$1,181/mo
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,181 in Memphis, so Cincinnati is 15% 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 $2,160, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Cincinnati still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Memphis.
Planning to buy in Cincinnati? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Cincinnati's median income is 2% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Cincinnati
Winner$52,909
Median household income is $52,909 in Cincinnati versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Cincinnati (about $1,173 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
53% lower crime
Cincinnati's crime index is 53% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Cincinnati
Winner231 (100 = avg)
Cincinnati's crime index is 231 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% lower in Cincinnati. 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, Cincinnati 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
52% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 52% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cincinnati averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis scores 52% 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 Cincinnati 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
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Cincinnati on this page's weather index by 52%. Cincinnati 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
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Cincinnati is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($52,909). Start with Cincinnati if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Cincinnati is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than Memphis (231 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Cincinnati leads on safety (35/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,001 in Cincinnati and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (35/100 in Cincinnati vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,001 in Cincinnati and $1,181 in Memphis.
Cincinnati is ahead on safety (35/100 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 Cincinnati?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Cincinnati when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Cincinnati, plus other cities in TN and OH.
