City comparison
Yes. Seattle's crime index is 252 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 216 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and Memphis is significant: $123,860 median household versus $51,736. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $1,181 in Memphis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Seattle 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
Seattle and Memphis are 1,863 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $849 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $51,736 in Memphis, down $72,124 (58%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 495 in Memphis, up 243 points (96%).
The move
Memphis and Seattle are 1,863 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $849 a month (72%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $123,860 in Seattle, up $72,124 (139%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 252 in Seattle, down 243 points (49%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
42% cheaper
Memphis rent is 42% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Memphis is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $849/month back in your pocket ($10,188/year). Over five years that's $50,940 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 Seattle, 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
139% higher
Seattle's median income is 139% higher than Memphis
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 139% higher in Seattle (about $72,124 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, Seattle 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
49% lower crime
Seattle's crime index is 49% lower than Memphis
Seattle
Winner252 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Seattle's crime index is 252 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% lower in Seattle. 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, Seattle 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
39% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 39% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Memphis scores 39% 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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 139% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Seattle is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 49% lower than Memphis (252 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 42% 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 Seattle on this page's weather index by 39%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: Seattle median income is $123,860 versus $51,736 in Memphis (58% higher). Rent still runs $2,030/month in Seattle and $1,181/month in Memphis, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Seattle rates.
Seattle still pays more locally ($123,860 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays Seattle rates.
Safety scores read 32/100 in Seattle and 11/100 in Memphis.
If local pay drives your move, Seattle is the stronger match ($123,860 median income against $51,736). 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 Seattle and Memphis, plus other cities in WA and TN.
