City comparison
No. Stockton's crime index is 233 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 314 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
The income gap between Memphis and Stockton is significant: $51,736 median household versus $79,907. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,181 in Memphis and $1,577 in Stockton.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and Stockton 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 Stockton are 1,737 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $396 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $79,907 in Stockton, up $28,171 (54%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 233 in Stockton, down 262 points (53%).
The move
Stockton and Memphis are 1,737 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $396 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $51,736 in Memphis, down $28,171 (35%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 495 in Memphis, up 262 points (112%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Memphis rent is 25% cheaper than Stockton
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Stockton
$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,577 in Stockton, so Memphis is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $396/month back in your pocket ($4,752/year). Over five years that's $23,760 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 Stockton, 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 Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
54% higher
Stockton's median income is 54% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Stockton
Winner$79,907
Median household income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 54% higher in Stockton (about $28,171 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, Stockton 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
53% lower crime
Stockton's crime index is 53% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Stockton
Winner233 (100 = avg)
Stockton's crime index is 233 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% lower in Stockton. 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, Stockton 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 Stockton are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Stockton
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Stockton 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. Stockton 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 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Stockton is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 54% higher here ($79,907). Start with Stockton if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Stockton is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than Memphis (233 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 Stockton leads on safety (34/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,577 in Stockton and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Stockton's $1,577, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,577 in Stockton.
Between Memphis and Stockton, Stockton is ahead on safety — 34/100 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
Ready to move to Stockton?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Stockton when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Stockton, plus other cities in TN and CA.
