Memphis TN
Tennessee · Pop. 618,980
Memphis, TN: median household income of $51,736, median rent of $1,181/mo, 8.3% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$51,736
per year
Median Rent
$1,181
per month
Median Home
$169k
home value
Unemployment
8.3%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
23.1%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
21 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"Memphis, TN Reality Check"
In Memphis, the rent-to-income burden runs around 27% — acceptable by national standards. Median income sits at $51,736 and median rent is $1,181/month. 52% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $169,000 — that's 3.3× the median income. Employment picture: 8.31% unemployment — a softer job market. Poverty rate: 23.1% — well above the national average. The headline economic numbers hide a bifurcated city. Average commute: 21 minutes — acceptable. Violent crime: 190.5/100k avg monthly rate (58840 reported); Property crime: 510.1/100k avg monthly rate (157372 reported). Memphis was founded in 1819 — that's 207 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 324.0 sq miles at 1,910 people/sq mile — spread out. Elevation: 338 ft — modest elevation. RoastMyCity overall score: 61/100 — It Depends.
Local Context
Weather
/100Average high 71.7°F, low 54.5°F. 48 days per year above 90°F. 56.9 inches of annual precipitation.
Safety
/100Violent crime: 190.5/100k avg monthly rate (58840 reported); Property crime: 510.1/100k avg monthly rate (157372 reported).