Is Memphis cheaper than Stockton?

Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,274 a month versus $1,742 in Stockton — 27% cheaper. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $71,612 in Stockton, so Stockton has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Memphis or Stockton?

Stockton is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 140 in Memphis — 13% 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 Stockton?

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

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City comparison

Memphis, TN vs Stockton, CA

Memphis, TN versus Stockton, CA 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 $1,742 in Stockton, and median household income lands at $48,090 versus $71,612. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

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

Full Memphis report Full Stockton report

Memphis, TN

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

Stockton, CA

Rent: $1,742/mo
Median income: $71,612
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 84°F

Rent

27% cheaper

Memphis rent is 27% cheaper than Stockton

Memphis

Winner

$1,274/mo

Stockton

$1,742/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,274 a month in Memphis versus $1,742 in Stockton, so Memphis is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $468/month back in your pocket — $5,616/year. Over five years that's $28,080 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 Stockton, 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

Stockton's median income is 49% higher than Memphis

Memphis

$48,090

Stockton

Winner

$71,612

What this means for your life

Median household income is $71,612 in Stockton versus $48,090 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 49% higher in Stockton — about $23,522 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, Stockton 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

13% lower crime

Stockton's crime index is 13% lower than Memphis

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

Stockton

Winner

122 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Stockton's crime index is 122 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% lower in Stockton. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Stockton, 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 Stockton are about even on school scores.

Memphis

A- · 84/100

Stockton

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Memphis, A- in Stockton). 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 Stockton are about even on typical weather.

Memphis

84°F typical

Stockton

84°F typical

What this means for your life

Outdoor comfort is close between Memphis and Stockton. Typical temperatures sit around 84°F in Memphis and 84°F in Stockton. 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

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 27% 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.

Open the Memphis report →

Fit check

Who should choose Stockton

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Stockton is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 49% higher here ($71,612). Start with Stockton if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Stockton is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 13% lower than Memphis (122 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 Stockton report →

Bottom line

Memphis vs Stockton, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Memphis vs Stockton FAQ

Is Memphis cheaper than Stockton?: Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,274 a month versus $1,742 in Stockton — 27% cheaper. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $71,612 in Stockton, so Stockton has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Memphis or Stockton?: Stockton is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 140 in Memphis — 13% 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 Stockton?: School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Stockton. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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