Memphis, TN vs Nashville, TN
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Nov 2026
Report card
| Category | MemphisMemphis, TN | NashvilleNashville, TN | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Soft | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Moderate | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At $44,867 for Memphis, TN and $109,411 for Nashville, TN, the comfortable income for a family of 4 shows a 2.4× difference, with Nashville in the 71st percentile and Memphis in the 14th. The single-person comfortable income follows the same pattern: $30,522 in Memphis versus $74,429 in Nashville, again a 2.4× gap. Median home values also diverge sharply, with Nashville’s $383,100 sitting in the 69th percentile compared to Memphis’s $157,100 in the 14th, per 2023 Census figures.
The labor market and education metrics show further contrasts. Unemployment in Memphis runs at 4.4% versus Nashville’s 2.8%, a 1.6-point difference. Work-from-home rates are 8.0% in Memphis and 18.3% in Nashville, a 10.3-point spread. Bachelor’s degree attainment among adults is 28.2% in Memphis and 46.9% in Nashville, an 18.7-point gap. Property crime per 100,000 people is 5,028 in Memphis and 1,641 in Nashville, a 3.1× difference, with Memphis in the 99th percentile and Nashville in the 64th.
Other figures reinforce the split. The cost of living index is 80 in Memphis and 131 in Nashville, with Nashville 64% higher. Median rent is $1,123 versus $1,486, a 32% gap. Per-capita income is $32,314 in Memphis and $46,820 in Nashville, 45% higher in the latter. Population density is 2,171 per square mile in Memphis versus 1,439 in Nashville, 51% higher in Memphis.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Nov 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 8029th pctl | 13168th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Memphis, TN 80; Nashville, TN 131; Nashville is 64% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $157,10014th pctl | $383,10069th pctl | Median home value: Memphis, TN $157,100; Nashville, TN $383,100; Nashville is 2.4 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,12343rd pctl | $1,48670th pctl | Median rent: Memphis, TN $1,123; Nashville, TN $1,486; Nashville is 32% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $51,21115th pctl | $75,19753rd pctl | Median household income: Memphis, TN $51,211; Nashville, TN $75,197; Nashville is 47% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $30,52214th pctl | $74,42971st pctl | Comfortable income (single): Memphis, TN $30,522; Nashville, TN $74,429; Nashville is 2.4 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $44,86714th pctl | $109,41171st pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Memphis, TN $44,867; Nashville, TN $109,411; Nashville is 2.4 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Stretched | Housing affordability: Memphis, TN A+; Nashville, TN C+; Memphis is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Nashville needs about
$122,800
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 80 vs 131). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.4%80th pctl | 2.8%15th pctl | Unemployment: Memphis, TN 4.4%; Nashville, TN 2.8%; Memphis is 1.6 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.9%8th pctl | +1.1%50th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Memphis, TN -0.9%; Nashville, TN +1.1%; Nashville is 2.0 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $32,31429th pctl | $46,82072nd pctl | Per-capita income: Memphis, TN $32,314; Nashville, TN $46,820; Nashville is 45% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 22.5%88th pctl | 14.1%62nd pctl | Poverty rate: Memphis, TN 22.5%; Nashville, TN 14.1%; Memphis is 8.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 21.3 min35th pctl | 24.9 min60th pctl | Average commute: Memphis, TN 21.3 min; Nashville, TN 24.9 min; Nashville is 4 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 8.0%34th pctl | 18.3%79th pctl | Work from home: Memphis, TN 8.0%; Nashville, TN 18.3%; Nashville is 10.3 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Weak | Stable | Economic opportunity: Memphis, TN D; Nashville, TN C; Nashville is graded higher. |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | Job market: Memphis, TN B-; Nashville, TN A-; Nashville is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 1,849100th pctl | 49185th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Memphis, TN 1,849; Nashville, TN 491; Memphis is 3.8 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 5,02899th pctl | 1,64164th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Memphis, TN 5,028; Nashville, TN 1,641; Memphis is 3.1 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Fair | Crime & safety: Memphis, TN F; Nashville, TN C-; Nashville is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Memphis, TN F; Nashville, TN C+; Nashville is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | Tap water: Memphis, TN A+; Nashville, TN A-; Memphis is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | Homesteading potential: Memphis, TN A+; Nashville, TN B+; Memphis is graded higher. |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort, broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Tennessee, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Tennessee →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 5 mi5th pctl | 1 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Memphis, TN 5 mi; Nashville, TN 1 mi; Memphis is 9.0 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | Target proximity: Memphis, TN D-; Nashville, TN F; Memphis is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 690 mi90th pctl | 528 mi72nd pctl | Distance to international border: Memphis, TN 690 mi; Nashville, TN 528 mi; Memphis is 31% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 323 mi57th pctl | 384 mi61st pctl | Distance to coastline: Memphis, TN 323 mi; Nashville, TN 384 mi; Nashville is 19% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 629,06399th pctl | 684,29899th pctl | Population: Memphis, TN 629,063; Nashville, TN 684,298; Nashville is 9% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,17164th pctl | 1,43944th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Memphis, TN 2,171; Nashville, TN 1,439; Memphis is 51% higher. |
| Median age | 34.321st pctl | 34.421st pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.2%40th pctl | 46.9%76th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Memphis, TN 28.2%; Nashville, TN 46.9%; Nashville is 18.7 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.448th pctl | 2.218th pctl | Average household size: Memphis, TN 2.4; Nashville, TN 2.2; Memphis is 11% larger. |
More about Memphis's residents · Nashville's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Memphis and Nashville
- Median rent: $1,123 in Memphis, $1,486 in Nashville
- Median home value: $157,100 in Memphis, $383,100 in Nashville
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 80 in Memphis, 131 in Nashville
- Median household income: $51,211 in Memphis, $75,197 in Nashville
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $44,867 in Memphis, $109,411 in Nashville
- Unemployment: 4.4% in Memphis, 2.8% in Nashville
- Average commute: 21.3 min in Memphis, 24.9 min in Nashville
- Violent crime per 100k: 1,849 in Memphis, 491 in Nashville
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More places like Memphis and Nashville
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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