Memphis, TN, known as 'Home of the Blues,' offers a unique blend of musical history and Southern charm. Located in southwestern Tennessee, Memphis is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Southaven and Germantown enhance its status as a central point in the region. Memphis's blend of live music, historic landmarks, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Memphis is home to several iconic landmarks, including Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley, the National Civil Rights Museum, and Beale Street, known for its vibrant nightlife and live music. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Shelby Farms Park to the bustling Memphis Zoo. Memphis's dining scene is renowned for its barbecue and soul food.
Annual events such as the Beale Street Music Festival and the Memphis in May International Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Memphis's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like the University of Memphis and Rhodes College contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Memphis is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Orpheum Theatre and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Memphis provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Memphis’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Grizzlies (NBA) and the Redbirds (MiLB), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Memphis include logistics, healthcare, and education, with significant employers such as FedEx and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and a developing trolley system, making it easy to navigate the city.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Employment
The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.
Schools
Factors such as lower than average graduation rates, lackluster reading and math scores and the limited accessibility of local elementary and high schools could contribute to the low schools score.
Ratings
Polls and surveys done by AreaVibes among area residents did not yield positive feedback when it came to the walkability of amenities, safety, nearby parks and the overall sense of community.
Memphis is a large city located in the state of Tennessee. The city has a population of 674,455 residents. Memphis is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 40%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married.
Whether you’re moving to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Memphis could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Tennessee if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like crime, commute, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Memphis and in the areas around Memphis is a much easier task.
With a livability score of 70/100, Memphis is ranked #7,235 in the United States and #56 in Tennessee. Based on the grades for each individual category, Memphis has received high marks for amenities (B) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Memphis ranks poorly for, including: education (F) and employment (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to figure out why.
Memphis has many conveniently situated amenities and captivating attractions that adds to the continuous enjoyment of your everyday life. Having the assurance of abundant conveniences and a wide array of activities ensures your easy access to nearby grocery stores, restaurants, bars, fitness facilities, coffee shops and exciting entertainment options. This not only simplifies daily routines but also fosters a vibrant and dynamic lifestyle within the community. With a wealth of resources at your fingertips, you can savor the convenience and variety that Memphis has to offer, making it a desirable destination for those seeking both accessibility and enjoyment in their daily lives. Here are some of the more popular things to do in Memphis: Graceland, Sun Studio, and Beale Street.
For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Memphis apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.
Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Memphis. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Memphis are affordable. The median home price for Memphis homes is $192,060, which is 26.7% lower than the Tennessee average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Memphis, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.1, which is 16.2% lower than the Tennessee average.
| Statistic | Memphis | Tennessee | National |
| Average one way commute | 22min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 81.6% | 83.6% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.4% | 9.2% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.3% | 0.8% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.4% | 1.4% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.8% | 3.9% | 4.6% |
Here are the best places to live in Tennessee
These are the largest cities in Tennessee
See the best places to live in Memphis
Check out the 10 safest cities in Tennessee