Is Memphis cheaper than Baltimore?

Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,181 a month versus $1,331 in Baltimore — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $51,736 in Memphis compared with $62,177 in Baltimore, so Baltimore has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Memphis or Baltimore?

Baltimore is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 112 versus 140 in Memphis — 20% 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 Baltimore?

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

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City comparison

Memphis, TN vs Baltimore, MD

Memphis, TN versus Baltimore, MD 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 $1,181 a month in Memphis and $1,331 in Baltimore, and median household income lands at $51,736 versus $62,177. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Memphis takes affordability, while Baltimore takes job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Baltimore leads by 20% — 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 Baltimore do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Memphis and Baltimore reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Memphis report Full Baltimore report

Memphis, TN

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

Baltimore, MD

Rent: $1,331/mo
Median income: $62,177
Crime index: 112
Schools: A-
Weather: 74°F

Rent

11% cheaper

Memphis rent is 11% cheaper than Baltimore

Memphis

Winner

$1,181/mo

Baltimore

$1,331/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,331 in Baltimore, so Memphis is 11% 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 $1,800 — 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 Baltimore.

Median income

20% higher

Baltimore's median income is 20% higher than Memphis

Memphis

$51,736

Baltimore

Winner

$62,177

What this means for your life

Median household income is $62,177 in Baltimore versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Baltimore — about $10,441 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, Baltimore 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

20% lower crime

Baltimore's crime index is 20% lower than Memphis

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

Baltimore

Winner

112 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Baltimore's crime index is 112 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% lower in Baltimore. 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, Baltimore 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 Baltimore are about even on school scores.

Memphis

A- · 84/100

Baltimore

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

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

20% more comfortable

Baltimore weather is 20% more comfortable than Memphis

Memphis

80°F typical

Baltimore

Winner

74°F typical

What this means for your life

Baltimore scores 20% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 80°F in Memphis and 74°F in Baltimore. Memphis reads as warm weather most of the year; Baltimore 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. Baltimore is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Memphis 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

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Memphis

Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% 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.

Open the Memphis report →

Fit check

Who should choose Baltimore

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 20% higher ($62,177), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 74°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Baltimore is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Memphis (112 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 Baltimore report →

Bottom line

Memphis vs Baltimore, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Memphis vs Baltimore FAQ

Is Memphis cheaper than Baltimore?: Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,181 a month versus $1,331 in Baltimore — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $51,736 in Memphis compared with $62,177 in Baltimore, so Baltimore has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Memphis or Baltimore?: Baltimore is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 112 versus 140 in Memphis — 20% 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 Baltimore?: School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Baltimore. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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