City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Safety is where Memphis and Raleigh split most clearly. Raleigh scores 353 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 $1,572 in Raleigh.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Raleigh 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 Raleigh are 643 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $391 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $33,659 (65%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 142 in Raleigh, down 353 points (71%).
The move
Raleigh and Memphis are 643 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $391 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $51,736 in Memphis, down $33,659 (39%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 495 in Memphis, up 353 points (249%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Memphis rent is 25% cheaper than Raleigh
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Memphis is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $391/month back in your pocket ($4,692/year). Over five years that's $23,460 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 Raleigh, 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
65% higher
Raleigh's median income is 65% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 65% higher in Raleigh (about $33,659 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, Raleigh 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
71% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 71% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
16% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh averages around 60°F. Memphis scores 16% 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 Raleigh 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 25% 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 Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh 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
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 65% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Memphis (142 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 Raleigh leads on safety (49/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Raleigh is ahead on safety (49/100 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 Raleigh, plus other cities in TN and NC.
