City comparison
No. Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 279 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Memphis and Toledo. Memphis averages 68°F while Toledo averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,181 versus $934.
Toledo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Memphis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Toledo is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Memphis and Toledo are 571 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $934 a month in Toledo, down $247 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $62,224 in Toledo, up $10,488 (20%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 221 in Toledo, down 274 points (55%).
The move
Toledo and Memphis are 571 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $247 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $51,736 in Memphis, down $10,488 (17%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 495 in Memphis, up 274 points (124%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Toledo rent is 21% cheaper than Memphis
Memphis
$1,181/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,181 in Memphis, so Toledo is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $247/month back in your pocket ($2,964/year). Over five years that's $14,820 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 Memphis, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Toledo's median income is 20% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Toledo
Winner$62,224
Median household income is $62,224 in Toledo versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Toledo (about $10,488 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, Toledo 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
55% lower crime
Toledo's crime index is 55% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Toledo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% lower in Toledo. 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, Toledo 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
64% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 64% more comfortable than Toledo
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis scores 64% 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 Toledo 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
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Toledo on this page's weather index by 64%. Toledo 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
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Toledo is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($62,224). Start with Toledo if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Toledo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 55% lower than Memphis (221 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Toledo: Toledo scores 36/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $934 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 25 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (36/100 in Toledo vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $934 in Toledo and $1,181 in Memphis.
Pick Toledo when you want the stronger safety signal (36/100). Otherwise, Memphis's case rests on a Memphis ZIP you trust at $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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