Is Memphis cheaper than Plano?

Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,274 a month versus $1,931 in Plano — 34% cheaper. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $105,679 in Plano, so Plano has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Memphis or Plano?

Plano 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 Plano?

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

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City comparison

Memphis, TN vs Plano, TX

Memphis, TN versus Plano, 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 $1,931 in Plano, and median household income lands at $48,090 versus $105,679. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Memphis takes affordability and weather, while Plano takes job market and safety. The widest gap is median income, where Plano leads by 120% — 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 Plano do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Memphis and Plano reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Memphis report Full Plano report

Memphis, TN

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

Plano, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $105,679
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Rent

34% cheaper

Memphis rent is 34% cheaper than Plano

Memphis

Winner

$1,274/mo

Plano

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,274 a month in Memphis versus $1,931 in Plano, so Memphis is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $657/month back in your pocket — $7,884/year. Over five years that's $39,420 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 Plano, 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

120% higher

Plano's median income is 120% higher than Memphis

Memphis

$48,090

Plano

Winner

$105,679

What this means for your life

Median household income is $105,679 in Plano versus $48,090 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 120% higher in Plano — about $57,589 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, Plano 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

Plano's crime index is 22% lower than Memphis

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

Plano

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Plano's crime index is 109 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Plano. 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, Plano 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 Plano are about even on school scores.

Memphis

A- · 84/100

Plano

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

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

35% more comfortable

Memphis weather is 35% more comfortable than Plano

Memphis

Winner

84°F typical

Plano

91°F typical

What this means for your life

Memphis scores 35% 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 91°F in Plano. Memphis reads as hot, long summers; Plano 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. Plano 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 34% 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 Plano on this page's weather index by 35%. Plano 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 Plano

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 120% higher here ($105,679). Start with Plano if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Plano 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 Plano report →

Bottom line

Memphis vs Plano, called

If the job market is your priority, Plano 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 Plano FAQ

Is Memphis cheaper than Plano?: Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,274 a month versus $1,931 in Plano — 34% cheaper. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $105,679 in Plano, so Plano has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Memphis or Plano?: Plano 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 Plano?: School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Plano. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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