City comparison
No. Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 24 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $2,997 in Irvine.
The income gap between Memphis and Irvine is significant: $51,736 median household versus $136,719. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,181 in Memphis and $2,997 in Irvine.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and Irvine 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 Irvine are 1,581 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $2,997 a month in Irvine, up $1,816 a month (154%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $136,719 in Irvine, up $84,983 (164%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 51 in Irvine, down 444 points (90%).
The move
Irvine and Memphis are 1,581 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,997 a month in Irvine to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $1,816 a month (61%).
Median household income goes from $136,719 in Irvine to $51,736 in Memphis, down $84,983 (62%).
The crime index goes from 51 in Irvine to 495 in Memphis, up 444 points (871%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irvine, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Irvine? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
61% cheaper
Memphis rent is 61% cheaper than Irvine
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Irvine
$2,997/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $2,997 in Irvine, so Memphis is 61% cheaper. That's roughly $1,816/month back in your pocket ($21,792/year). Over five years that's $108,960 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 Irvine, 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 Irvine? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
164% higher
Irvine's median income is 164% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Irvine
Winner$136,719
Median household income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 164% higher in Irvine (about $84,983 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, Irvine 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
90% lower crime
Irvine's crime index is 90% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Irvine
Winner51 (100 = avg)
Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 90% lower in Irvine. 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, Irvine 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 Irvine are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irvine
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Irvine averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irvine sits near 76°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 61% 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
Irvine is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 164% higher here ($136,719). Start with Irvine if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Irvine is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 90% lower than Memphis (51 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 Irvine leads on safety (80/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $2,997 in Irvine and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Irvine still pays more locally ($136,719 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays Irvine rates.
Median income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Irvine; Memphis only makes sense when you have walked the Memphis ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Irvine, plus other cities in TN and CA.
