City comparison
Yes. Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 197 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oklahoma City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,130 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Safety is where Oklahoma City and Memphis split most clearly. Oklahoma City scores 312 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,181 in Memphis.
Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Oklahoma City has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oklahoma City and Memphis are 422 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $51 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $51,736 in Memphis, down $16,920 (25%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 495 in Memphis, up 312 points (170%).
The move
Memphis and Oklahoma City are 422 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, down $51 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, up $16,920 (33%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 183 in Oklahoma City, down 312 points (63%).
Oklahoma City, OK
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 Oklahoma City and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Oklahoma City rent is 4% cheaper than Memphis
Oklahoma City
Winner$1,130/mo
Memphis
$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City versus $1,181 in Memphis, so Oklahoma City is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $51, or $612 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 Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
33% higher
Oklahoma City's median income is 33% higher than Memphis
Oklahoma City
Winner$68,656
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 33% higher in Oklahoma City (about $16,920 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, Oklahoma City 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
63% lower crime
Oklahoma City's crime index is 63% lower than Memphis
Oklahoma City
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% lower in Oklahoma City. 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, Oklahoma City 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
12% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 12% more comfortable than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Memphis scores 12% 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 Oklahoma City 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
Oklahoma City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,130 a month. Choose Oklahoma City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Oklahoma City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 33% higher here ($68,656). Start with Oklahoma City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Oklahoma City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 63% lower than Memphis (183 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
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Oklahoma City on this page's weather index by 12%. Oklahoma City 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 42/100 in Oklahoma City). That 31-point spread matters more than the $51 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (42/100 in Oklahoma City vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Oklahoma City and 68°F in Memphis.
Oklahoma City clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Memphis deserves a serious look only 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 Oklahoma City and Memphis, plus other cities in OK and TN.
