City comparison
No. Fresno's crime index is 195 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 211 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,421 in Fresno.
Safety is where Memphis and Fresno split most clearly. Fresno scores 300 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 $1,421 in Fresno.
Fresno is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather 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 Fresno is the stronger move.
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 Fresno are 1,660 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,421 a month in Fresno, up $240 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $70,991 in Fresno, up $19,255 (37%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 195 in Fresno, down 300 points (61%).
The move
Fresno and Memphis are 1,660 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,421 a month in Fresno to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $240 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $70,991 in Fresno to $51,736 in Memphis, down $19,255 (27%).
The crime index goes from 195 in Fresno to 495 in Memphis, up 300 points (154%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Fresno, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Fresno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Memphis rent is 17% cheaper than Fresno
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Fresno
$1,421/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,421 in Fresno, so Memphis is 17% 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 $2,880, 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 Fresno.
Planning to buy in Fresno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Fresno's median income is 37% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Fresno
Winner$70,991
Median household income is $70,991 in Fresno versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Fresno (about $19,255 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, Fresno 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
61% lower crime
Fresno's crime index is 61% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Fresno
Winner195 (100 = avg)
Fresno's crime index is 195 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% lower in Fresno. 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, Fresno 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
3% more comfortable
Fresno weather is 3% more comfortable than Memphis
Memphis
64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Fresno
Winner69°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Fresno averages about 69°F (78°F highs). Memphis averages around 64°F. Fresno sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Fresno scores 3% 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 Memphis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 17% 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 37% higher ($70,991), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 69°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fresno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 61% lower than Memphis (195 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 Fresno leads on safety (40/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,421 in Fresno and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Fresno's $1,421, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,421 in Fresno.
Fresno is ahead on safety (40/100 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
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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