Memphis vs Nashville
Compare Memphis, TN and Nashville, TN on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Memphis is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $1,091/mo versus $1,346/mo in Nashville — a gap of about $255/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,298/mo against $1,619/mo. Across the four public-data screens Nashville comes out ahead (256 vs 240 summed points), though Memphis still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 90°F and 90°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Memphis; if walkable daily life matters more, Nashville screens stronger on the walkability proxy (12 vs 10). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Memphis leads 76 to 64 on the cost and climate screen.
Nashville leads 80 to 73 on the work screen.
Nashville leads 54 to 40 on the daily life screen.
Nashville leads 58 to 51 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Memphis is roughly $42,500 in Nashville using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Memphis | Nashville | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,091/mo | $1,346/mo | Memphis |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,298/mo | $1,619/mo | Memphis |
| Median home value | $208,000 | $345,000 | Memphis |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 30.1 min | Memphis |
| Safety score | 33/100 | 52/100 | Nashville |
| School score | 5/10 | 7/10 | Nashville |
| Walkability estimate | 10/100 | 12/100 | Nashville |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 5/10 | Memphis |
| Restaurants per 100k | 166.9 | 208.1 | Nashville |
| Mountain distance | 8 mi | 68 mi | Memphis |
| Coast distance | 328 mi | 382 mi | Memphis |
What stands out
Memphis stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Trail access within 49 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 127 miles
Memphis tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Nashville stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
Nashville tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Common questions
Is Memphis cheaper than Nashville?
On public benchmarks Memphis is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,091/mo in Memphis vs $1,346/mo in Nashville; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,298/mo vs $1,619/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Memphis or Nashville safer?
Nashville screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 33/100 for Memphis and 52/100 for Nashville (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Memphis or Nashville?
School screens show 5/10 for Memphis vs 7/10 for Nashville, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Memphis and Nashville?
Memphis: summer highs near 90°F, winter lows near 29°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Nashville: 90°F / 28°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
Start City Match