City comparison
New York is safer than Memphis. New York's crime index is 169 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 195 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,821 in New York.
Safety is where New York and Memphis split most clearly. New York scores 326 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,821 in New York and $1,181 in Memphis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and New York 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
New York and Memphis are 953 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $640 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $51,736 in Memphis, down $28,747 (36%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 495 in Memphis, up 326 points (193%).
The move
Memphis and New York are 953 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,821 a month in New York, up $640 a month (54%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $80,483 in New York, up $28,747 (56%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 169 in New York, down 326 points (66%).
New York, NY
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 New York and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Memphis rent is 35% cheaper than New York
New York
$1,821/mo
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,821 in New York, so Memphis is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $640/month back in your pocket ($7,680/year). Over five years that's $38,400 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 New York, 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
56% higher
New York's median income is 56% higher than Memphis
New York
Winner$80,483
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $80,483 in New York versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 56% higher in New York (about $28,747 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, New York 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
66% lower crime
New York's crime index is 66% lower than Memphis
New York
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
New York's crime index is 169 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 66% lower in New York. 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, New York 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
25% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 25% more comfortable than New York
New York
58°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 80/100
Memphis
Winner70°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
New York averages about 58°F (65°F highs); Memphis averages about 70°F (79°F highs). New York averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Memphis scores 25% 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 New York 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
New York is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 56% higher here ($80,483). Start with New York if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
New York is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 66% lower than Memphis (169 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 35% 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 (70°F) beat New York on this page's weather index by 25%. New York may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but New York leads on safety (44/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,821 in New York and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
New York still pays more locally ($80,483 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays New York rates.
Median income is $80,483 in New York versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Between New York and Memphis, New York is ahead on safety — 44/100 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
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New York and Memphis, plus other cities in NY and TN.
