City comparison
No. Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 213 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
The income gap between Memphis and Sacramento is significant: $51,736 median household versus $87,321. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,181 in Memphis and $1,779 in Sacramento.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and Sacramento 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 Sacramento are 1,746 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $598 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $35,585 (69%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 181 in Sacramento, down 314 points (63%).
The move
Sacramento and Memphis are 1,746 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $598 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $51,736 in Memphis, down $35,585 (41%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 495 in Memphis, up 314 points (173%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
Memphis rent is 34% cheaper than Sacramento
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Memphis is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $598/month back in your pocket ($7,176/year). Over five years that's $35,880 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 Sacramento, 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 Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
69% higher
Sacramento's median income is 69% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 69% higher in Sacramento (about $35,585 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, Sacramento 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
63% lower crime
Sacramento's crime index is 63% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Sacramento
Winner181 (100 = avg)
Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% lower in Sacramento. 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, Sacramento 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 Sacramento are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Sacramento sits near 71°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 34% 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
Sacramento is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 69% higher here ($87,321). Start with Sacramento if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Sacramento is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 63% lower than Memphis (181 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: Sacramento scores 42/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis. Rent is $1,779/month in Sacramento and $1,181/month in Memphis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Sacramento's $1,779, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,779 in Sacramento.
Between Memphis and Sacramento, Sacramento is ahead on safety — 42/100 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
Quotes and listings for Sacramento when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Sacramento, plus other cities in TN and CA.
