City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,528 in Glendale.
Safety is where Memphis and Glendale split most clearly. Glendale scores 351 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 $1,528 in Glendale.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Glendale 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 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 Glendale are 1,265 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,528 a month in Glendale, up $347 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $73,530 in Glendale, up $21,794 (42%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 144 in Glendale, down 351 points (71%).
The move
Glendale and Memphis are 1,265 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $347 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $51,736 in Memphis, down $21,794 (30%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 495 in Memphis, up 351 points (244%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Glendale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Memphis rent is 23% cheaper than Glendale
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Glendale
$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,528 in Glendale, so Memphis is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $347/month back in your pocket ($4,164/year). Over five years that's $20,820 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Glendale, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Memphis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
42% higher
Glendale's median income is 42% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Glendale
Winner$73,530
Median household income is $73,530 in Glendale versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Glendale (about $21,794 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, Glendale 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
71% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 71% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% lower in Glendale. 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, Glendale 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
Memphis weather is 3% more comfortable than Glendale
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Glendale
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Glendale averages around 81°F. Memphis 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 Glendale 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 23% 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 Glendale on this page's weather index by 3%. Glendale 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
Glendale is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 42% higher here ($73,530). Start with Glendale if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Glendale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Memphis (144 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
Safety is the widest gap: Glendale scores 49/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis. Rent is $1,528/month in Glendale and $1,181/month in Memphis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Glendale's $1,528, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,528 in Glendale.
Between Memphis and Glendale, Glendale is ahead on safety — 49/100 safety versus 11/100. Lean Memphis instead when you already know the Memphis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Glendale, plus other cities in TN and AZ.
