Which city is safer, San Francisco or Memphis?

San Francisco 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, San Francisco or Memphis?

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

New search

City comparison

San Francisco, CA vs Memphis, TN

San Francisco, CA versus Memphis, TN 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 $2,476 a month in San Francisco and $1,181 in Memphis, and median household income lands at $140,970 versus $51,736. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

San Francisco takes job market, safety, and weather, while Memphis takes affordability. The widest gap is median income, where San Francisco leads by 172% — 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 San Francisco can feel further apart than San Francisco and Memphis do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the San Francisco and Memphis reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full San Francisco report Full Memphis report

San Francisco, CA

Rent: $2,476/mo
Median income: $140,970
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 63°F

Memphis, TN

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

Rent

52% cheaper

Memphis rent is 52% cheaper than San Francisco

San Francisco

$2,476/mo

Memphis

Winner

$1,181/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Memphis is 52% cheaper. That's roughly $1,295/month back in your pocket — $15,540/year. Over five years that's $77,700 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 San Francisco, 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

172% higher

San Francisco's median income is 172% higher than Memphis

San Francisco

Winner

$140,970

Memphis

$51,736

What this means for your life

Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 172% higher in San Francisco — about $89,234 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, San Francisco 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

San Francisco's crime index is 13% lower than Memphis

San Francisco

Winner

122 (100 = avg)

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

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

San Francisco and Memphis are about even on school scores.

San Francisco

A- · 84/100

Memphis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

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

11% more comfortable

San Francisco weather is 11% more comfortable than Memphis

San Francisco

Winner

63°F typical

Memphis

80°F typical

What this means for your life

San Francisco scores 11% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 63°F in San Francisco and 80°F in Memphis. San Francisco reads as mild, livable temperatures; Memphis 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, San Francisco is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose San Francisco

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 172% higher ($140,970), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 63°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

San Francisco 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 San Francisco report →

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 52% 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 →

Bottom line

San Francisco vs Memphis, called

If the job market is your priority, San Francisco is the clear choice.

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

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

Common questions

San Francisco vs Memphis FAQ

Is San Francisco cheaper than Memphis?: No. Memphis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,181 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco — 52% lower. Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco compared with $51,736 in Memphis, so San Francisco has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, San Francisco or Memphis?: San Francisco 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, San Francisco or Memphis?: School composites are close: A- in San Francisco and A- in Memphis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to San Francisco?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps