Is Memphis cheaper than Toledo?

No. Toledo is cheaper: typical rent is $1,076 a month versus $1,274 in Memphis — 16% lower. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $45,405 in Toledo, so Memphis has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Memphis or Toledo?

Toledo is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 140 in Memphis — 39% 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 Toledo?

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

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City comparison

Memphis, TN vs Toledo, OH

Memphis, TN versus Toledo, OH 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 $1,076 in Toledo, and median household income lands at $48,090 versus $45,405. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Memphis takes job market, while Toledo takes affordability, safety, and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Toledo leads by 46% — 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 Toledo do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Memphis and Toledo reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Memphis report Full Toledo report

Memphis, TN

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

Toledo, OH

Rent: $1,076/mo
Median income: $45,405
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 68°F

Rent

16% cheaper

Toledo rent is 16% cheaper than Memphis

Memphis

$1,274/mo

Toledo

Winner

$1,076/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,076 a month in Toledo versus $1,274 in Memphis, so Toledo is 16% 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 $2,376 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Toledo still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Memphis.

Median income

6% higher

Memphis's median income is 6% higher than Toledo

Memphis

Winner

$48,090

Toledo

$45,405

What this means for your life

Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis versus $45,405 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Memphis — about $2,685 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

39% lower crime

Toledo's crime index is 39% lower than Memphis

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

Toledo

Winner

86 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Toledo's crime index is 86 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Toledo. 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, Toledo 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 Toledo are about even on school scores.

Memphis

A- · 84/100

Toledo

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

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

46% more comfortable

Toledo weather is 46% more comfortable than Memphis

Memphis

84°F typical

Toledo

Winner

68°F typical

What this means for your life

Toledo scores 46% 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 68°F in Toledo. Memphis reads as hot, long summers; Toledo reads as mild, livable temperatures. 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. Toledo 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

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Memphis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($48,090). Start with Memphis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Memphis report →

Fit check

Who should choose Toledo

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,076 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Toledo if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Memphis on this page's weather index by 46%. Memphis may pay more or cost less, but Toledo is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Toledo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Memphis (86 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 Toledo report →

Bottom line

Memphis vs Toledo, called

If weather is your priority, Toledo is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Memphis pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Memphis vs Toledo FAQ

Is Memphis cheaper than Toledo?: No. Toledo is cheaper: typical rent is $1,076 a month versus $1,274 in Memphis — 16% lower. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $45,405 in Toledo, so Memphis has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Memphis or Toledo?: Toledo is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 140 in Memphis — 39% 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 Toledo?: School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Toledo. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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