City comparison
No. Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $2,007 in Jersey City.
The income gap between Memphis and Jersey City is significant: $51,736 median household versus $97,710. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,181 in Memphis and $2,007 in Jersey City.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Jersey City 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 Jersey City are 950 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $2,007 a month in Jersey City, up $826 a month (70%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $97,710 in Jersey City, up $45,974 (89%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 135 in Jersey City, down 360 points (73%).
The move
Jersey City and Memphis are 950 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,007 a month in Jersey City to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $826 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $97,710 in Jersey City to $51,736 in Memphis, down $45,974 (47%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Jersey City to 495 in Memphis, up 360 points (267%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Jersey City, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Jersey City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Memphis rent is 41% cheaper than Jersey City
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Jersey City
$2,007/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $2,007 in Jersey City, so Memphis is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $826/month back in your pocket ($9,912/year). Over five years that's $49,560 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 Jersey City, 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
89% higher
Jersey City's median income is 89% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Jersey City
Winner$97,710
Median household income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 89% higher in Jersey City (about $45,974 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, Jersey City 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
73% lower crime
Jersey City's crime index is 73% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Jersey City
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% lower in Jersey City. 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, Jersey City 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 Jersey City
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jersey City
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Jersey City averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Jersey City 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 Jersey City 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 41% 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 Jersey City on this page's weather index by 52%. Jersey City 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
Jersey City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 89% higher here ($97,710). Start with Jersey City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Jersey City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 73% lower than Memphis (135 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
Memphis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (11/100 safety vs 51/100 in Jersey City). That 40-point spread matters more than the $826 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Jersey City still pays more locally ($97,710 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays Jersey City rates.
Median income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Pick Jersey City when you want the stronger safety signal (51/100). Otherwise, Memphis's case rests on a Memphis ZIP you trust at $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Memphis when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Jersey City, plus other cities in TN and NJ.
