City comparison
No. Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lexington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,164 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Safety is where Memphis and Lexington split most clearly. Lexington scores 393 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 $1,164 in Lexington.
Lexington 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 Lexington is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Lexington has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Lexington are 366 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,164 a month in Lexington, down $17 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $69,479 in Lexington, up $17,743 (34%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 102 in Lexington, down 393 points (79%).
The move
Lexington and Memphis are 366 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $17 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $51,736 in Memphis, down $17,743 (26%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 495 in Memphis, up 393 points (385%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lexington, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Lexington rent is 1% cheaper than Memphis
Memphis
$1,181/mo
Lexington
Winner$1,164/mo
Typical rent runs $1,164 a month in Lexington versus $1,181 in Memphis, so Lexington is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $17, or $204 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
34% higher
Lexington's median income is 34% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Lexington
Winner$69,479
Median household income is $69,479 in Lexington versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 34% higher in Lexington (about $17,743 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, Lexington 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
79% lower crime
Lexington's crime index is 79% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Lexington
Winner102 (100 = avg)
Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 79% lower in Lexington. 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, Lexington 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
56% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 56% more comfortable than Lexington
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lexington
52°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 64/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Lexington averages about 52°F (63°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lexington averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis scores 56% 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 Lexington 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 Lexington on this page's weather index by 56%. Lexington 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
Lexington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,164 a month. Choose Lexington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Lexington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 34% higher here ($69,479). Start with Lexington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Lexington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 79% lower than Memphis (102 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 59/100 in Lexington). That 48-point spread matters more than the $17 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Median income is $69,479 in Lexington versus $51,736 in Memphis — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Pick Lexington when you want the stronger safety signal (59/100). Otherwise, Memphis's case rests on a Memphis ZIP you trust at $1,181 rent.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Memphis and 52°F in Lexington.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Lexington, plus other cities in TN and KY.
