City comparison
No. Tucson's crime index is 156 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 146 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tucson is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Safety is where Memphis and Tucson split most clearly. Tucson scores 339 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis and $1,145 in Tucson.
Tucson 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 Tucson is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Tucson has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Tucson are 1,215 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,145 a month in Tucson, down $36 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $57,073 in Tucson, up $5,337 (10%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 156 in Tucson, down 339 points (68%).
The move
Tucson and Memphis are 1,215 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Tucson to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $36 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $57,073 in Tucson to $51,736 in Memphis, down $5,337 (9%).
The crime index goes from 156 in Tucson to 495 in Memphis, up 339 points (217%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tucson, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Tucson? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Tucson rent is 3% cheaper than Memphis
Memphis
$1,181/mo
Tucson
Winner$1,145/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Tucson versus $1,181 in Memphis, so Tucson is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $36, or $432 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Tucson? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Tucson's median income is 10% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Tucson
Winner$57,073
Median household income is $57,073 in Tucson versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Tucson (about $5,337 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
68% lower crime
Tucson's crime index is 68% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Tucson
Winner156 (100 = avg)
Tucson's crime index is 156 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% lower in Tucson. 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, Tucson 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 Tucson are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tucson
77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Tucson 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. Tucson 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
On these five categories Tucson takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Memphis because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Memphis only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Tucson is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Tucson if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Tucson is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% higher here ($57,073). Start with Tucson if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Tucson 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 (156 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: Tucson scores 46/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis. Rent is $1,145/month in Tucson and $1,181/month in Memphis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
With only $36 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,145 in Tucson and $1,181 in Memphis.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Tucson; Memphis only makes sense when you have walked the Memphis ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Tucson when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Tucson, plus other cities in TN and AZ.
