City comparison
No. Riverside's crime index is 158 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,914 in Riverside.
The income gap between Memphis and Riverside is significant: $51,736 median household versus $91,045. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,181 in Memphis and $1,914 in Riverside.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and Riverside 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 Riverside are 1,554 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,914 a month in Riverside, up $733 a month (62%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $91,045 in Riverside, up $39,309 (76%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 158 in Riverside, down 337 points (68%).
The move
Riverside and Memphis are 1,554 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,914 a month in Riverside to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $733 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $91,045 in Riverside to $51,736 in Memphis, down $39,309 (43%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Riverside to 495 in Memphis, up 337 points (213%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Riverside, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Riverside? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Memphis rent is 38% cheaper than Riverside
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Riverside
$1,914/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,914 in Riverside, so Memphis is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $733/month back in your pocket ($8,796/year). Over five years that's $43,980 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 Riverside, 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 Riverside? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
76% higher
Riverside's median income is 76% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Riverside
Winner$91,045
Median household income is $91,045 in Riverside versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 76% higher in Riverside (about $39,309 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, Riverside 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
68% lower crime
Riverside's crime index is 68% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Riverside
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Riverside's crime index is 158 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% lower in Riverside. 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, Riverside 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 Riverside are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Riverside
77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Riverside averages about 77°F (84°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Riverside sits near 77°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 38% 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
Riverside is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 76% higher here ($91,045). Start with Riverside if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Riverside is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 68% lower than Memphis (158 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
Safety is the widest gap: Riverside scores 46/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis. Rent is $1,914/month in Riverside and $1,181/month in Memphis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Riverside still pays more locally ($91,045 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays Riverside rates.
Median income is $91,045 in Riverside versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Between Memphis and Riverside, Riverside is ahead on safety — 46/100 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 Riverside, plus other cities in TN and CA.
