Is Dallas cheaper than Memphis?

No. Memphis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas — 20% lower. Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas compared with $51,736 in Memphis, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Dallas or Memphis?

Dallas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 140 in Memphis — 22% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Dallas or Memphis?

School composites are close: A- in Dallas and A- in Memphis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Dallas, TX vs Memphis, TN

Dallas, TX versus Memphis, TN is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,472 a month in Dallas and $1,181 in Memphis, and median household income lands at $70,518 versus $51,736. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Dallas takes job market and safety, while Memphis takes affordability and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Memphis leads by 56% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Dallas can feel further apart than Dallas and Memphis do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Dallas and Memphis reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Dallas report Full Memphis report

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,472/mo
Median income: $70,518
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Memphis, TN

Rent: $1,181/mo
Median income: $51,736
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 80°F

Rent

20% cheaper

Memphis rent is 20% cheaper than Dallas

Dallas

$1,472/mo

Memphis

Winner

$1,181/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Memphis is 20% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,492 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Memphis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Dallas.

Median income

36% higher

Dallas's median income is 36% higher than Memphis

Dallas

Winner

$70,518

Memphis

$51,736

What this means for your life

Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Dallas — about $18,782 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, Dallas 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

22% lower crime

Dallas's crime index is 22% lower than Memphis

Dallas

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Dallas's crime index is 109 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Dallas. 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, Dallas is the easier city. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Dallas and Memphis are about even on school scores.

Dallas

A- · 84/100

Memphis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Dallas, A- in Memphis). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

56% more comfortable

Memphis weather is 56% more comfortable than Dallas

Dallas

91°F typical

Memphis

Winner

80°F typical

What this means for your life

Memphis scores 56% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 91°F in Dallas and 80°F in Memphis. Dallas reads as hot, long summers; Memphis reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Memphis is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Dallas can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Dallas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 36% higher here ($70,518). Start with Dallas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Memphis (109 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.

Open the Dallas report →

Fit check

Who should choose Memphis

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 20% 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 (80°F) beat Dallas on this page's weather index by 56%. Dallas may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Memphis report →

Bottom line

Dallas vs Memphis, called

If weather is your priority, Memphis is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Memphis offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Dallas vs Memphis FAQ

Is Dallas cheaper than Memphis?: No. Memphis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas — 20% lower. Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas compared with $51,736 in Memphis, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Dallas or Memphis?: Dallas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 140 in Memphis — 22% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Dallas or Memphis?: School composites are close: A- in Dallas and A- in Memphis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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