City comparison
No. Lubbock's crime index is 189 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 221 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,182 in Lubbock.
Safety is where Memphis and Lubbock split most clearly. Lubbock scores 306 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 $1,182 in Lubbock.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Lubbock 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 crime gap is citywide. Lubbock has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Lubbock are 682 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,182 a month in Lubbock, up $1 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $60,895 in Lubbock, up $9,159 (18%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 189 in Lubbock, down 306 points (62%).
The move
Lubbock and Memphis are 682 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,182 a month in Lubbock to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $1 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $60,895 in Lubbock to $51,736 in Memphis, down $9,159 (15%).
The crime index goes from 189 in Lubbock to 495 in Memphis, up 306 points (162%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lubbock, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Lubbock? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Memphis rent is 1% cheaper than Lubbock
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Lubbock
$1,182/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,182 in Lubbock, so Memphis is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $1, or $12 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 Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Lubbock's median income is 18% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Lubbock
Winner$60,895
Median household income is $60,895 in Lubbock versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Lubbock (about $9,159 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, Lubbock 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
62% lower crime
Lubbock's crime index is 62% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Lubbock
Winner189 (100 = avg)
Lubbock's crime index is 189 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% lower in Lubbock. 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, Lubbock 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
9% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 9% more comfortable than Lubbock
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lubbock
62°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 92/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Lubbock averages about 62°F (70°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lubbock averages around 62°F. Memphis scores 9% 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 Lubbock 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 1% 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 Lubbock on this page's weather index by 9%. Lubbock 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
Lubbock is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($60,895). Start with Lubbock if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Lubbock is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 62% lower than Memphis (189 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Lubbock: Lubbock scores 41/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with matched rent near $1,182/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 30 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $60,895 in Lubbock versus $51,736 in Memphis — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Memphis and 62°F in Lubbock.
If safety drives your move, Lubbock is the stronger match (41/100 safety versus 11/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Memphis, treat $1,181/month rent and $51,736 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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