Is Houston cheaper than Memphis?

No. Memphis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,361 in Houston — 13% lower. Median household income is $64,813 in Houston compared with $51,736 in Memphis, so Houston has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Houston or Memphis?

Houston 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, Houston or Memphis?

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

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City comparison

Houston, TX vs Memphis, TN

Houston, 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 $1,361 a month in Houston and $1,181 in Memphis, and median household income lands at $64,813 versus $51,736. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Houston takes job market and safety, while Memphis takes affordability and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Memphis leads by 42% — 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 Houston can feel further apart than Houston and Memphis do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Houston and Memphis reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Houston report Full Memphis report

Houston, TX

Rent: $1,361/mo
Median income: $64,813
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 89°F

Memphis, TN

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

Rent

13% cheaper

Memphis rent is 13% cheaper than Houston

Houston

$1,361/mo

Memphis

Winner

$1,181/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,361 in Houston, so Memphis is 13% 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 $2,160 — 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 Houston.

Median income

25% higher

Houston's median income is 25% higher than Memphis

Houston

Winner

$64,813

Memphis

$51,736

What this means for your life

Median household income is $64,813 in Houston versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Houston — about $13,077 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, Houston 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

Houston's crime index is 22% lower than Memphis

Houston

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Houston's crime index is 109 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Houston. 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, Houston 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

Houston and Memphis are about even on school scores.

Houston

A- · 84/100

Memphis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Houston, 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

42% more comfortable

Memphis weather is 42% more comfortable than Houston

Houston

89°F typical

Memphis

Winner

80°F typical

What this means for your life

Memphis scores 42% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 89°F in Houston and 80°F in Memphis. Houston 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. Houston 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 Houston

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Houston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 25% higher here ($64,813). Start with Houston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Houston 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 Houston 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 13% 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 Houston on this page's weather index by 42%. Houston may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Memphis report →

Bottom line

Houston vs Memphis, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Houston vs Memphis FAQ

Is Houston cheaper than Memphis?: No. Memphis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,361 in Houston — 13% lower. Median household income is $64,813 in Houston compared with $51,736 in Memphis, so Houston has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Houston or Memphis?: Houston 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, Houston or Memphis?: School composites are close: A- in Houston and A- in Memphis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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