City comparison
Yes. Nashville's crime index is 282 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 309 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
The income gap between Nashville and Memphis is significant: $77,371 median household versus $51,736. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,586 in Nashville and $1,181 in Memphis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Nashville pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Nashville and Memphis are 196 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $405 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $51,736 in Memphis, down $25,635 (33%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 495 in Memphis, up 213 points (76%).
The move
Memphis and Nashville are 196 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $405 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $77,371 in Nashville, up $25,635 (50%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 282 in Nashville, down 213 points (43%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
Memphis rent is 26% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Memphis is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $405/month back in your pocket ($4,860/year). Over five years that's $24,300 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 Nashville, 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 Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
50% higher
Nashville's median income is 50% higher than Memphis
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 50% higher in Nashville (about $25,635 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, Nashville 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
43% lower crime
Nashville's crime index is 43% lower than Memphis
Nashville
Winner282 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Nashville's crime index is 282 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% lower in Nashville. 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, Nashville 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
3% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 3% more comfortable than Nashville
Nashville
64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Memphis scores 3% 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 Nashville if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Nashville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 50% higher here ($77,371). Start with Nashville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Nashville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 43% lower than Memphis (282 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.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% 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.
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Nashville on this page's weather index by 3%. Nashville may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Memphis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (11/100 safety vs 28/100 in Nashville). That 17-point spread matters more than the $405 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Nashville's $1,586, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,586 in Nashville.
If safety drives your move, Nashville is the stronger match (28/100 safety versus 11/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Memphis, treat $1,181/month rent and $51,736 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Memphis, plus other cities in TN.
