Moving to Memphis TN Complete Relocation Guide 2023

Is moving to Memphis, TN right for you?

Music is to Memphis what life is to the living. Memphis is known for blues, rock 'n' roll, soul music, and some of Tennessee's leading tourist spots. Memphis has one of the lowest costs of living in the entire United States and homes are easily affordable in the city.

Famous for its endless entertainment, Memphis is Tennessee's second most populous city and one of the best places to live in Tennessee. Memphis spectacular outdoor activities, great weather, and shorter commute time makes it a perfect place for many millennials.

If you'd like to live in a city where every day is a holiday, and the entertainment is endless, moving to Memphis Tennessee is right for you. To help you weigh your options carefully before making a decision, we've curated key data about living in Memphis.

Here's all you need to know before making up your mind about moving to Memphis:

Quick Facts of Memphis
Top Reasons to move to Memphis
Pros & Cons of Living in Memphis
Housing Market in Memphis
Neighborhoods in Memphis
Cost of Living in Memphis
Best Things To Do In Memphis
How Safe is Memphis?
Schools in Memphis

Quick stats to know before moving to Memphis, TN?

Learn some facts about Memphis before moving to the city to help you decide if it's the right place for you.

The average household income of Memphis residents is $59,730
The poverty rate in Memphis is 26.81%
The temperature in Memphis typically ranges from 34℉ to 91℉
The average rental price in Memphis is $825
The median home value in Memphis is $106,412
TMemphis average one-way commute time is 21.7 minutes
Memphis average job pay per hour is $30
Crime rates in Memphis are 224% higher than the U.S. average

What's the population of Memphis, TN?

How many people call Memphis their home? Before making up your mind about moving to Memphis, The Population of Memphis is 651,073 and it's the second largest city in Tennessee. Here's a simple breakdown of the city's population:

Female: 52.61%
Male: 47.39%
Old age dependency ratio: 19.6
Child dependency ratio 40.4
Median age of the population: 33.8
Overall marriage rate: 31.1%
Labor force: 63.2%
Unemployment rate: 9.3%

How fast can you commute in Memphis, TN?

How fast can you commute if you're moving to Memphis, TN? Most of the residents in Memphis, TN move around the city with their personal car rather than rely on the public transportation system.

Memphis average one-way commute time is 21.7 minutes. The U.S. average is 26.4 minutes.
About 81.1% of Memphis residents drive their own car alone
Up to 10.7% of Memphis residents carpool with others
About 2.8% of Memphis residents work from home
Up to 1.9% of Memphis residents take the mass transit

Tip: While moving the home, safety of your belongings is the priority and you need a trustworthy mover at your side. Know the top-rated moving companies in Memphians, TN.

How's the Weather like in Memphis, TN?

Moving to Memphis, TN gives you the opportunity to experience all four seasons in a year. Here's a simple analysis of the weather in Memphis, Tennessee:

The temperature in Memphis typically ranges from 34℉ to 91℉
The temperature in Memphis is is hardly below 34℉ or above 34℉
Memphis averages 54 inches of rain per year. The U.S. average is 38 inches per year
Memphis averages 3 inches of snow per year. The U.S. average is 28
Memphis averages 218 sunny days per year. The U.S. average is 205
On average Memphis gets 108 days of precipitation per year.
Summers in Memphis are long, and hot
Winters in Memphis are wet, windy and cold
It's partly cloudy in Memphis, year round
Late April to early June and from late August to mid October are best time to visit Memphis for warm weather activities

10 Reasons why people are moving to Memphis, TN

Memphis, the home of the blues, could be the perfect place for you if you're considering moving to another city. We've curated the key reasons why moving to Memphis is a great idea:

Enjoy endless Blues and Rock 'n' Rolls
The birthplace of Blues and Rock 'n' Rolls is a destination to catch up with endless music. On every nook and corner of the city, you will come across a music club playing live music and every second person in Memphis is a crazy music lover looking for an opportunity to display his talent. There’s no place on the planet as Memphis to explore Rock 'n' Rolls.
Memphis is rated as one of the ten best cities for startups
Memphis is the 7th best city to start a business in the US. The availability of resources, attractive corporate taxes, labor costs, industry variety, and the affordability of office space per square foot play major roles in making Memphis a hot start-up destination.
Memphis has one of the lowest costs of living in the U.S.
The housing expenses in Memphis are 34% lower than the national average and transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 11% lower than the national average. While the median home rent in this Tennessee city is $825 per month, you could own a home for $228,326. This is much lower when compared to nearby cities, such as Nashville.
Affordable homes
One of the great things about Memphis is affordable accommodation. You can rent a studio apartment for $683 and a one-bedroom house for $770. The monthly rent for a two-bedroom home is approximately $908 while a three-bedroom house is $1,240.
You can buy a medium house in Memphis for $124,779, which is much lower than the national average. However, home values have gone up 19.7% over the past year.
Remarkable outdoor living
In Memphis, you don’t need to stay inside either in winter or in summer. Whether it's hitting the links, the trails, or family-focused attractions, Memphis is a stellar choice for outdoor enthusiasts to explore, almost year-round.

Here are a few activities to engage outside in Memphis:
- Go on a bike ride
- Hit some of the good parks with the family
- Conquer the obstacles at GoApe Treetop Adventure Course
- Watch the sunset and Mighty Lights
- Visit Shelby Forest
- See the bison at Shelby Farms
- Shop at a farmer's market
- Visit the Dixon or the Memphis Botanic Garden
- Take a public art or mural tour
- Canoe or kayak on the Mississippi or the Ghost
Every day is a holiday, enjoy endless events
From music fests to foodie feasts, Memphis is packed with festivals year-round and the city is always in the festival mood. Here are some of the must-explore events and festivals in Memphis:
- World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
- Great American River Run
- Mid-South Pride Parade & Festival
- Roar and Pour
- Elvis Week
- World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival
- Memphis Chicken & Beer Festival
- Southern Heritage Classic Weekend
- Mid-South Fair
- Bartlett Festival
- Mempho Music Festival
- Memphis Brewfest & Brunchfest
- Memphis Food & Wine Festival
- Memphis Fashion Week
- Memphis Tequila Festival
Tennessee has no state income tax and so is Memphis
Tennessee does not levy tax on your earnings which means your bank account will be fatter than your friends in other states. However, there is a 6% tax on interest and dividends and a 7% sales tax.
It's one of the happiest cities to work in the U.S.
From the pristine scenic beauty to the lip-smacking goodness that is Memphis-style barbecue, the residents have got reasons to be happy living here. Memphis is ranked the 9th happiest city in the country in 2023 and also the 7th most spiritually fulfilled city. In professional life, Memphis ranks 4th happiest city in the US to work.
You'll enjoy all four seasons
The 4 distinct kinds of weather make Memphis a comfortable place to live and work year-round.

The city experiences all 4 kinds of weather – winter, summer, spring & fall. The summers are long, hot, and muggy while winters are short, very cold, wet, and windy. Thunderstorms can happen any time of the year but are common in the spring months.
Amazing food
The delicacies at Memphis are mouthwatering and mostly famous for slow-cooked, dry rub barbecue ribs. However, Memphis cuisines are not just limited to barbecues but the food diversity is large.

Here are a few dishes you should not miss in Memphis:
- BBQ tofu nachos
- Lemongrass tofu taco salad
- Cornish game hen
- Skillet of shrimp
- Chopped pork sandwich
- Lobster Pronto Pup
- Pulled pork sandwich
- Portobello sandwich
- Soul Burger

What are the Pros and Cons of Living in Memphis, TN?

Moving to Memphis gives you good job opportunities completed with a low cost of living and no income tax. In addition, fuelled with high voltage music, Memphis is a city with a pulse.

Moreover, the city is surrounded by serene settings. But Memphis has also got reasons not to move here. You need to study both the pluses and minuses of Memphis before taking the final call. To help you, we have got the honest pros and cons of living in Memphis.

Here are the key pros and cons of moving to Memphis, TN:

The Pros of Living in Memphis	The Cons of Living in Memphis
Great housing market	Memphis has one of the highest crime rates in the U.S.
Dependable healthcare system	The traffic in Memphis is terrible
Enjoy endless entertainment	Sometimes the heat in Memphis is unbearable
Growth in tech jobs	Memphis has one of the worst poverty rates in the U.S.
You'll enjoy sports	High sales tax
Memphians are friendly	You'll need a car to move around in Memphis
Top-quality education	You may have to deal with tornadoes and violent storms
Great commuting network with shorter commuting time	Traveling to anywhere from Memphis is difficult
Memphis is a foodie's paradise	Bugs everywhere, mosquitoes, chiggers, and more
The weather is remarkable	Poor public transportation system
	Grocery and utilities are below average

Tip: When you’ve got a home to move in Memphis, TN, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.

How Is the Housing Market in Memphis, TN?

Looking to buy a home in Memphis after moving to the city? We have collated key metrics of the Memphis real estate market to help you put the right foot forward.

What's the average cost of buying a home in Memphis, TN?

One of the best parts of moving to Memphis is that the city's real estate market is known for having some of the most affordable homes in the entire United States. More than 50% of Memphis residents are homeowners and the city's real estate value is constantly on the rise. Here's a simple analysis of Memphis real estate market:

Memphis, TN median home value is $106,412
Single-family detached homes are the most common types (60.10%) of homes in Memphis
Three- and four-bedroom homes are the most common building type and size
Memphis real estate cumulative appreciation rate over the ten years has been 34.26
Memphis homes annual average appreciation rate is 2.99%
At 6.42% appreciation rate in the past 12 months, Memphis is one of the highest appreciating communities in the nation

How’s the healthcare in Memphis?

Before you make a call to move to Memphis, it is important to know the city’s health system. Despite ranking high in healthcare, life expectancy is lower in Memphis than the national average and the city also has serious obesity issues.

Let’s take a look at a few health-related facts in Memphis

The average life expectancy in Memphis is 76 years and this is lower than the national life expectancy of 78 years.
Getting affordable and healthy food is a serious concern in Memphis, where 33% of the population live a mile away from a grocery store.
Infant mortality rate in Memphis has drastically come down in recent years.
About 6.4% of the population in Memphis is diabetic.

Here’s a list of top-rated hospitals in Memphis

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis
Methodist Hospitals of Memphis
Baptist Memorial Hospital- Crittenden
Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women
Crestwyn Behavioral Health
Delta Medical Center
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of North Memphis
Lakeside Behavioral Health System-Memphis

What are the best places to live in Memphis, TN?

Memphis, TN is home to many neighborhoods. Since you're considering moving to Memphis, TN, the following are the best places to live in the city using data from HomeSnacks:

Here are the 10 best neighborhoods in Memphis, TN:

Rank	Neighborhood	Population	Home Value	Median Income
1	Windyke-Southwind	10,884	$275,875	$85,767
2	Cordova-Appling	83,223	$143,825	$65,003
3	Eads-Fisherville	14,121	$197,233	$77,857
4	River Oaks-Kirby-Balmoral	42,038	$169,116	$64,831
5	East Memphis-Colonial-Yorkshire	107,753	$133,731	$47,789
6	Hickory Ridge-South Riverdale	92,024	$90,668	$45,212
7	Raleigh	54,460	$68,098	$37,105
8	Midtown	62,752	$96,608	$34,572
9	Berclair-Highland Heights	33,880	$54,679	$29,979
10	White Haven-Coro Lake	88,153	$69,690	$34,319

What's the Cost of Living in Memphis, TN?

Memphis is one of the least expensive cities to live in the United States. The cost of living in Memphis is rated 76.0 using a United States average of 100. This means the cost of living in Memphis is 24 times lower than the United States average. If you're moving to Memphis, you wouldn't have to bother about the high cost of living. Housing is rated as the most significant factor in the cost of living metric.Also, you can calculate your cost of moving to Memphis using a free moving cost calculator. You can request for free moving quotes to get multiple quotes from professional moving companies.

What's the average home rental price in Memphis, TN?

Since you're mulling over moving to Memphis, you should be aware that the city has some of the least expensive rental markets in the entire United States. Renting a home in Memphis is fairly easy and 5.3% of homes in the city are available to rent, the United States average is 2.1.

In Memphis, renters make up 41.9% of the population and since you're considering moving to Memphis, you may decide to buy or rent a home. To help you get started, since you're contemplating moving to Memphis, TN here's a simple analysis of the Memphis rental market compared to the U.S. average.

The average rental price in Memphis is $825. The U.S. average is $1,470
Average rental price for a studio apartment is $683. The U.S. average is $821
Average rental price for a 1-bedroom apartment is $770. The US. Average is $930
Average rental price for a 2-bedroom home is $908. The U.S. average is $1,148
Average rental price for a 3-bedroom home is $1240. The U.S. average is $1,537
Average rental price for a 4-bedroom home is $1426. The U.S. average is $1,791

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What's the average salary and income in Memphis, TN?

How much will you start earning if you move to Memphis, TN? Depending on your current location, you may end up earning more or less when you move to Tennessee. Let's find out how much you will most likely earn in Tennessee.

Memphis average job pay per hour is $30
Average job pay per month in Memphis is $5,240
Memphis average job pay per week is $1,209
The average annual pay for jobs in Memphis is $62,883 a year
Memphis averages 218 sunny days per year. The U.S. average is 205
Some annual salaries are as high as $128,283 or as low as $19,337
The average pay range for an average job in Memphis is $23,110

How is the job market in Memphis?

The booming economy of Memphis has significantly contributed to the city’s job market. One of the robust economies in the Southeastern United States, Memphis’ job sector highly stresses manufacturing, transportation, and shipping. If you're mulling over moving to Memphis, here are all the key information you need to know about the city’s job market:

Three Fortune 500 companies, FedEx, AutoZone, and International Paper Co. are headquartered in Memphis
About 34.5% of the jobs are in the manufacturing and transportation sector.
Memphis has an unemployment rate of 8.0%.
The job market has increased by 2.1% over the last year.
The job market in Memphis is expected to grow by about 36% in the next 10 years.
The average income of a Memphis resident is $21,909 a year

What are the best-paid jobs in Memphis?

While moving to Memphis, it is important you know the best-paid jobs as you may consider switching the career. To know the job market better, we’ve listed the top-paid jobs in Memphis.

Internists, General
Surgeons
Physicians and Surgeons, All Other
Pediatricians, General
Chief Executives
Family and General Practitioners
Lawyers
Natural Sciences Managers
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Personal Financial Advisors
Financial Managers

Which are the top companies in Memphis?

Memphis is home to hundreds of companies, both small and large, giving jobs and contributing to the city’s economy for long decades. Here are some of the companies that made the best use of the business climate in Memphis and grew up as top players.

FedEx
AutoZone
International Paper
TruGreen Lawn Care
Sedgwick CMS Holdings
ServiceMaster
Methodist Healthcare
Baptist Memorial Health Care
Terminix
Pinnacle Airlines
First Horizon National

What are the best things to do after moving to Memphis, TN?

Memphis, TN is known for its endless entertainment. But there's more to Memphis than Blues and Rock 'n' Roll. While considering if moving to Memphis is right for you or not, here's a list of the best things to do in Memphis if you eventually chose the city:

Visit the Sun Studio where Elvis Presley started his music
Considered as the birthplace of Rock & Roll, Sun Studio played a prominent role in the careers of Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. It is now open to the public and displays a lot of memorabilia, including vintage recording equipment to original pressings of the earliest times.
Tour the popular Beale Street
An icon street in Memphis, Beale Street is one of the most visited places in Tennessee where music rules. The 1.8-mile street has nightclubs, restaurants, and shops and is a melting pot of delta blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, R&B, and gospel.
Explore the National Civil Rights Museum
The museum complex has a lot of historic buildings that exhibit the history of the civil rights movement in the US from the 17th century to the present. It is built around the former Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. There are presentations of iconic exhibits and oral histories of lesser-known civil rights activists.
Watch a Movie at Malco Summer Drive-in
A part of the Memphis landscape since the 1960s, Malco is an iconic place to catch up with movies, played on its 4 screens with excellent audio features. There are just 321 drive-in theaters left in the US and that increases the significance of Malco.
Explore the Orpheum theatre
The 2,308-seat Orpheum Theatre is a landmark of Memphis that has hosted art performances for over 90 years. It is the first building in Memphis to be on the National Register of Historic Places.
Tour the FedExForum
A multipurpose arena FedExForum hosts ice hockey, family shows, and concerts. The arena is spread over 14 acres, can seat up to 19,000 people and has 1,000 premiere courtside seats.
Enjoy baseball at the at Autozone Park
A minor league baseball stadium in Memphis, Autozone Park in downtown Memphis can seat up to 10,000 spectators. It is home to the Memphis Redbirds and Memphis 901 FC and has hosted many major events since its opening in 2000.
Explore the Memphis Brooks Museum of Arts
The oldest and largest art museum in Tennessee, Memphis Brooks Museum of Arts has 29 galleries displaying works from Greece, Rome, and the Americas; Renaissance masterpieces from Italy; English portraiture; American painting and decorative arts; contemporary art; and a survey of African art. The museum building is a US National Landmark.
Visit the Memphis Farmers' Market
A community market selling farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, Memphis Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from April to October. In Memphis, this market is the best place to buy farm produce and is normally crowded with both residents and visitors.
Cruise around the Mississippi riverv
In Memphis, the best way to see the city is from water and you can cruise through the Mississippi River on a boat for about 90 minutes. You will get great views and will learn the city's history while having snacks or a mug of beer.
Grab a tasty bite at the Central BBQ
The best place to explore authentic Memphis cuisine is Central BBQ. The menu is filled with mouthwatering delicacies, each affordably priced. Central BBQ has outlets in various parts of Memphis.
Explore the iconic home of Elvis at Graceland
Graceland, the mansion on a 13.8-acre estate was the home of Elvis Presley and now a museum dedicated to him. Graceland has been a National Historic Landmark since 2006 and about 1 million people visit here annually, taking it to the list of the most visited houses in the country after Biltmore Estate, Hearst Castle, and the White House.
Never miss the chance to see the Memphis pyramid
The 20,000-seat arena at Memphis on the banks of the Mississippi River looks like an Egyptian pyramid and usually hosts sports events, concerts, and performances. The 321-feet Memphis Pyramid is one of the most visited places in Memphis.
Tour the Memphis zoo one of the largest indoor animal facilities in the U.S.
Spread over 76 acres, Memphis Zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals representing over 500 different species. The zoo is divided into three zones that showcase a total of 19 different exhibits.
Enjoy the Go Ape Zip Line and Treetop Adventure
In Memphis, a self-guided 3-hour journey high up among the treetops is the best way to pump your adrenaline. From the top, you will get amazing views of nature below. The trip is specially catered for adventure lovers in Shelby Farms Park, Memphis.

Tip: Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.

How safe is Memphis to live?

Before making up your mind about moving to Memphis, TN, you should be aware about the city's crime rates to decide if it's the right place for you or not. So, we've curated key metrics about crime rates in Memphis, using data from NeighborhoodScout to help you get started.

Crime rates in Memphis are 224% higher than the U.S. average
Memphis violent crime rates are 411% higher than the U.S. average
You have a 1 in 12 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Memphis
The year over year crime rates of Memphis had increased by 1%
Memphis isn't safer than any city in the United States
Memphis has one of the worst crime rates in the United States

What are the best schools in Memphis, TN?

If you have school-age kids and considering moving to Memphis, TN, we've curated a list of the top-rated schools in the state. Here they are:

What's the best elementary school in Memphis?

SRichland Elementary School
5440 Rich Road, Memphis, TN, 38120,Public district, PK-5|806 students, Rating: 9/10
Rivercrest Elementary School
4825 Rivercrest Lane, Memphis, TN, 38135, Public district, PK-5|522 students, Rating: 8/10
Bon Lin Middle School
3862 North Germantown Road, Memphis, TN, 38133, Public district, 6-8|749 students, Rating: 8/10
Campus School
535 Zach H Curlin Street, Memphis, TN, 38111,Public district, 1-6|324 students, Rating: 8/10
White Station Elementary School
4840 Chickasaw Road, Memphis, TN, 38117,Public district, PK-5|657 students, Rating: 8/10

What's the best middle school in Memphis?

White Station High School
514 South Perkins Road, Memphis, TN, 38117, Public district, 9-12|2,205 students, Rating: 7/10
Middle College High School
750 East Parkway South, Memphis, TN, 38104, Public district, 9-12|280 students, Rating: 7/10
Hollis F. Price Middle College High School
807 Walker Avenue, Memphis, TN, 38126, Public district, 9-12|119 students, Rating: 7/10
Memphis Rise Academy
1230 Covington Pike, Memphis, TN, 38122, Public charter, 6-12|438 students, Rating: 5/10
Central High School
306 South Bellevue, Memphis, TN, 38104, Public district, 9-12|1,530 students, Rating: 5/10

What's the best high school in Memphis?

White Station High School
514 South Perkins Road, Memphis, TN, 38117, Public district, 9-12|2,205 students, Rating: 7/10
Middle College High School
750 East Parkway South, Memphis, TN, 38104, Public district, 9-12|280 students, Rating: 7/10
Hollis F. Price Middle College High School
807 Walker Avenue, Memphis, TN, 38126, Public district, 9-12|119 students, Rating: 7/10
Memphis Rise Academy
1230 Covington Pike, Memphis, TN, 38122, Public charter, 6-12|438 students, Rating: 5/10
Central High School
306 South Bellevue, Memphis, TN, 38104, Public district, 9-12|1,530 students, Rating: 5/10

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Moving to Memphis, TN in 2023? Complete Moving Guide

This is a complete guide for Moving to Memphis, Tennessee. Get all the information you need to know about moving to Memphis, Tennessee.

Quick Facts of Memphis

Top Reasons to move to Memphis

Pros & Cons of Living in Memphis

Housing Market in Memphis

Neighborhoods in Memphis

Cost of Living in Memphis

Best Things To Do In Memphis

How Safe is Memphis?

Schools in Memphis