Is Memphis cheaper than Anchorage?

Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,274 a month versus $1,631 in Anchorage — 22% cheaper. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $95,731 in Anchorage, so Anchorage has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Memphis or Anchorage?

Memphis is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 140 versus 144 in Anchorage — 3% 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, Memphis or Anchorage?

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

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City comparison

Memphis, TN vs Anchorage, AK

Memphis, TN versus Anchorage, AK 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 $1,274 a month in Memphis and $1,631 in Anchorage, and median household income lands at $48,090 versus $95,731. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Memphis takes affordability and safety, while Anchorage takes job market. The widest gap is median income, where Anchorage leads by 99% — 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 Memphis can feel further apart than Memphis and Anchorage do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Memphis and Anchorage reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Memphis report Full Anchorage report

Memphis, TN

Rent: $1,274/mo
Median income: $48,090
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 84°F

Anchorage, AK

Rent: $1,631/mo
Median income: $95,731
Crime index: 144
Schools: A-
Weather: 56°F

Rent

22% cheaper

Memphis rent is 22% cheaper than Anchorage

Memphis

Winner

$1,274/mo

Anchorage

$1,631/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,274 a month in Memphis versus $1,631 in Anchorage, so Memphis is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $357/month back in your pocket — $4,284/year. Over five years that's $21,420 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 Anchorage, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Memphis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

99% higher

Anchorage's median income is 99% higher than Memphis

Memphis

$48,090

Anchorage

Winner

$95,731

What this means for your life

Median household income is $95,731 in Anchorage versus $48,090 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 99% higher in Anchorage — about $47,641 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, Anchorage 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

3% lower crime

Memphis's crime index is 3% lower than Anchorage

Memphis

Winner

140 (100 = avg)

Anchorage

144 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Memphis's crime index is 140 versus 144 in Anchorage (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in Memphis. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Memphis, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Anchorage. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Memphis and Anchorage are about even on school scores.

Memphis

A- · 84/100

Anchorage

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Memphis, A- in Anchorage). 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

Neck and neck

Memphis and Anchorage are about even on typical weather.

Memphis

84°F typical

Anchorage

56°F typical

What this means for your life

Outdoor comfort is close between Memphis and Anchorage. Typical temperatures sit around 84°F in Memphis and 56°F in Anchorage. You are choosing a flavor of season, not paradise versus misery. Visit in the season you currently like least. A long weekend in October lies; a week in July or January does not.

Fit check

Who should choose Memphis

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $1,274 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Memphis is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 3% lower than Anchorage (140 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 Memphis report →

Fit check

Who should choose Anchorage

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Anchorage is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 99% higher here ($95,731). Start with Anchorage if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Anchorage report →

Bottom line

Memphis vs Anchorage, called

If the job market is your priority, Anchorage is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Memphis pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Memphis vs Anchorage FAQ

Is Memphis cheaper than Anchorage?: Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,274 a month versus $1,631 in Anchorage — 22% cheaper. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $95,731 in Anchorage, so Anchorage has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Memphis or Anchorage?: Memphis is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 140 versus 144 in Anchorage — 3% 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, Memphis or Anchorage?: School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Anchorage. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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