City comparison
Richmond is safer than Memphis. Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,372 in Richmond.
Safety is where Memphis and Richmond split most clearly. Richmond scores 326 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 $1,372 in Richmond.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Richmond 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. Richmond has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Richmond are 719 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,372 a month in Richmond, up $191 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $64,587 in Richmond, up $12,851 (25%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 169 in Richmond, down 326 points (66%).
The move
Richmond and Memphis are 719 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $191 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $51,736 in Memphis, down $12,851 (20%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 495 in Memphis, up 326 points (193%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Memphis rent is 14% cheaper than Richmond
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Richmond
$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,372 in Richmond, so Memphis is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,292, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Memphis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Richmond.
Planning to buy in Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Richmond's median income is 25% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Richmond
Winner$64,587
Median household income is $64,587 in Richmond versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Richmond (about $12,851 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, Richmond 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
66% lower crime
Richmond's crime index is 66% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Richmond
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 66% lower in Richmond. 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, Richmond 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
12% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 12% more comfortable than Richmond
Memphis
Winner69°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Richmond
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Memphis averages about 69°F (80°F highs); Richmond averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Memphis sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Richmond averages around 61°F. Memphis scores 12% 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 Richmond 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 14% 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 (69°F) beat Richmond on this page's weather index by 12%. Richmond 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
Richmond is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 25% higher here ($64,587). Start with Richmond if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Richmond is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 66% lower than Memphis (169 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 Richmond leads on safety (44/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,372 in Richmond and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Richmond's $1,372, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,372 in Richmond.
Between Memphis and Richmond, Richmond is ahead on safety — 44/100 safety versus 11/100. Lean Memphis instead when you already know the Memphis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Richmond, plus other cities in TN and VA.
