City comparison
Scottsdale is safer than Memphis. Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 48 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $2,013 in Scottsdale.
The income gap between Memphis and Scottsdale is significant: $51,736 median household versus $110,886. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,181 in Memphis and $2,013 in Scottsdale.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale are 1,249 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $2,013 a month in Scottsdale, up $832 a month (70%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $110,886 in Scottsdale, up $59,150 (114%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 79 in Scottsdale, down 416 points (84%).
The move
Scottsdale and Memphis are 1,249 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,013 a month in Scottsdale to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $832 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $110,886 in Scottsdale to $51,736 in Memphis, down $59,150 (53%).
The crime index goes from 79 in Scottsdale to 495 in Memphis, up 416 points (527%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Scottsdale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Memphis rent is 41% cheaper than Scottsdale
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Scottsdale
$2,013/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $2,013 in Scottsdale, so Memphis is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $832/month back in your pocket ($9,984/year). Over five years that's $49,920 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 Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
114% higher
Scottsdale's median income is 114% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Scottsdale
Winner$110,886
Median household income is $110,886 in Scottsdale versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 114% higher in Scottsdale (about $59,150 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, Scottsdale 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
84% lower crime
Scottsdale's crime index is 84% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale
Winner79 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 84% lower in Scottsdale. 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, Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
69°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Scottsdale
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 69°F (80°F highs); Scottsdale averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Memphis sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Scottsdale sits near 80°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 41% 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
Scottsdale is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 114% higher here ($110,886). Start with Scottsdale if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Scottsdale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 84% lower than Memphis (79 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: Scottsdale scores 67/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis. Rent is $2,013/month in Scottsdale and $1,181/month in Memphis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Scottsdale's $2,013, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $2,013 in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale is ahead on safety (67/100 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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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Scottsdale, plus other cities in TN and AZ.
