What it's like to live in Memphis
Memphis is a major city in Tennessee with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Memphis deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and hospital ratings below the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
How Memphis compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Memphis
Based on Memphis's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,362
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $47,240 a year
- 52% of Memphis renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$33,800
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $16,900
- Homes cost 3.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 16% below US
$1,181/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,181 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $169,000. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $169,000 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 16% above US
5.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.0%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 463% above US
1853 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 5029/100k · Memphis Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 19% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 35°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
10 hospitals
There are 10 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.2 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 22% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
219 public schools inside the boundary
There are 219 public schools inside the boundary and 45 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail (67 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Memphis's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,181/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Memphis
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