Is Memphis cheaper than Arlington?

Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,274 a month versus $1,723 in Arlington — 26% cheaper. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $71,736 in Arlington, so Arlington has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Memphis or Arlington?

Arlington 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, Memphis or Arlington?

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

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City comparison

Memphis, TN vs Arlington, TX

Memphis, TN versus Arlington, TX 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 $1,723 in Arlington, and median household income lands at $48,090 versus $71,736. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Memphis takes affordability and weather, while Arlington takes job market and safety. The widest gap is median income, where Arlington leads by 49% — 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 Arlington do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Memphis and Arlington reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Memphis report Full Arlington report

Memphis, TN

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

Arlington, TX

Rent: $1,723/mo
Median income: $71,736
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Rent

26% cheaper

Memphis rent is 26% cheaper than Arlington

Memphis

Winner

$1,274/mo

Arlington

$1,723/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,274 a month in Memphis versus $1,723 in Arlington, so Memphis is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $449/month back in your pocket — $5,388/year. Over five years that's $26,940 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 Arlington, 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

49% higher

Arlington's median income is 49% higher than Memphis

Memphis

$48,090

Arlington

Winner

$71,736

What this means for your life

Median household income is $71,736 in Arlington versus $48,090 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 49% higher in Arlington — about $23,646 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, Arlington 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

Arlington's crime index is 22% lower than Memphis

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

Arlington

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

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

Memphis and Arlington are about even on school scores.

Memphis

A- · 84/100

Arlington

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

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

44% more comfortable

Memphis weather is 44% more comfortable than Arlington

Memphis

Winner

84°F typical

Arlington

92°F typical

What this means for your life

Memphis scores 44% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 84°F in Memphis and 92°F in Arlington. Memphis reads as hot, long summers; Arlington reads as hot, long summers. 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. Arlington 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 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 26% 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.

Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (84°F) beat Arlington on this page's weather index by 44%. Arlington may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Memphis report →

Fit check

Who should choose Arlington

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Arlington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 49% higher here ($71,736). Start with Arlington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Arlington 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 Arlington report →

Bottom line

Memphis vs Arlington, called

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

If weather matters more to you, Memphis pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Memphis vs Arlington FAQ

Is Memphis cheaper than Arlington?: Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,274 a month versus $1,723 in Arlington — 26% cheaper. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $71,736 in Arlington, so Arlington has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Memphis or Arlington?: Arlington 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, Memphis or Arlington?: School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Arlington. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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