City comparison
Yes. Portland's crime index is 265 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 207 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
The income gap between Portland and Memphis is significant: $90,919 median household versus $51,736. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,655 in Portland and $1,181 in Memphis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Portland 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
Portland and Memphis are 1,846 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $474 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $51,736 in Memphis, down $39,183 (43%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 495 in Memphis, up 230 points (87%).
The move
Memphis and Portland are 1,846 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $474 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $90,919 in Portland, up $39,183 (76%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 265 in Portland, down 230 points (46%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
Memphis rent is 29% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,655 in Portland, so Memphis is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $474/month back in your pocket ($5,688/year). Over five years that's $28,440 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 Portland, 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
76% higher
Portland's median income is 76% higher than Memphis
Portland
Winner$90,919
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 76% higher in Portland (about $39,183 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, Portland 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
46% lower crime
Portland's crime index is 46% lower than Memphis
Portland
Winner265 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Portland's crime index is 265 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% lower in Portland. 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, Portland 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
16% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 16% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Memphis scores 16% 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 Portland 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
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 76% higher here ($90,919). Start with Portland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Portland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 46% lower than Memphis (265 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 29% 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 Portland on this page's weather index by 16%. Portland 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 Portland leads on safety (30/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,655 in Portland and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Portland's $1,655, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,655 in Portland.
Between Portland and Memphis, Portland is ahead on safety — 30/100 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 Portland and Memphis, plus other cities in OR and TN.
