Is Memphis cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,181 a month versus $1,831 in Denver — 35% cheaper. Median household income is $51,736 in Memphis compared with $94,718 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Memphis or Denver?

Denver is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 137 versus 140 in Memphis — 2% 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 Denver?

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

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City comparison

Memphis, TN vs Denver, CO

Memphis, TN versus Denver, CO 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 $1,831 in Denver, and median household income lands at $51,736 versus $94,718. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Memphis takes affordability, while Denver takes job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Denver leads by 83% — 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 Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Memphis and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Memphis report Full Denver report

Memphis, TN

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

Denver, CO

Rent: $1,831/mo
Median income: $94,718
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Rent

35% cheaper

Memphis rent is 35% cheaper than Denver

Memphis

Winner

$1,181/mo

Denver

$1,831/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,831 in Denver, so Memphis is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $650/month back in your pocket — $7,800/year. Over five years that's $39,000 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 Denver, 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

83% higher

Denver's median income is 83% higher than Memphis

Memphis

$51,736

Denver

Winner

$94,718

What this means for your life

Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 83% higher in Denver — about $42,982 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, Denver 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

2% lower crime

Denver's crime index is 2% lower than Memphis

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

Denver

Winner

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Denver's crime index is 137 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 2% lower in Denver. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Denver, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Memphis. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Memphis and Denver are about even on school scores.

Memphis

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

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

7% more comfortable

Denver weather is 7% more comfortable than Memphis

Memphis

80°F typical

Denver

Winner

78°F typical

What this means for your life

Denver scores 7% 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 78°F in Denver. Memphis reads as warm weather most of the year; Denver reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Memphis's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Denver is the city where the forecast fights you less.

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 35% 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 Denver

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 83% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 78°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Denver is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 2% lower than Memphis (137 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 Denver report →

Bottom line

Memphis vs Denver, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Memphis vs Denver FAQ

Is Memphis cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,181 a month versus $1,831 in Denver — 35% cheaper. Median household income is $51,736 in Memphis compared with $94,718 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Memphis or Denver?: Denver is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 137 versus 140 in Memphis — 2% 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 Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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