City comparison
No. Mesa's crime index is 108 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 131 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,620 in Mesa.
Safety is where Memphis and Mesa split most clearly. Mesa scores 387 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 $1,620 in Mesa.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and Mesa 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 Mesa are 1,246 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,620 a month in Mesa, up $439 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $82,752 in Mesa, up $31,016 (60%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 108 in Mesa, down 387 points (78%).
The move
Mesa and Memphis are 1,246 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,620 a month in Mesa to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $439 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $82,752 in Mesa to $51,736 in Memphis, down $31,016 (37%).
The crime index goes from 108 in Mesa to 495 in Memphis, up 387 points (358%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Mesa, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Mesa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
Memphis rent is 27% cheaper than Mesa
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Mesa
$1,620/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,620 in Mesa, so Memphis is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $439/month back in your pocket ($5,268/year). Over five years that's $26,340 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 Mesa, 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 Mesa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
60% higher
Mesa's median income is 60% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Mesa
Winner$82,752
Median household income is $82,752 in Mesa versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 60% higher in Mesa (about $31,016 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, Mesa 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
78% lower crime
Mesa's crime index is 78% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Mesa
Winner108 (100 = avg)
Mesa's crime index is 108 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 78% lower in Mesa. 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, Mesa 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 Mesa are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mesa
79°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Mesa averages about 79°F (87°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mesa sits near 79°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 27% 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
Mesa is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 60% higher here ($82,752). Start with Mesa if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Mesa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 78% lower than Memphis (108 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 Mesa leads on safety (58/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,620 in Mesa and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Mesa's $1,620, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,620 in Mesa.
Mesa is ahead on safety (58/100 vs 11/100); Memphis is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,181/month rent plus $51,736 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Mesa, plus other cities in TN and AZ.
