Matched harmonised GHSL urban-centre footprint; this may differ from the municipal boundary. View source
United States
Is Memphis a Good Place to Live?
Reasons Memphis may suit you
Reasons Memphis may not suit you
- Big-city scale can be the wrong fit if you want a simple routine
Two realistic addresses can create completely different versions of everyday life. Compare budget, recurring journeys, healthcare or household needs and your preferred routine from the neighbourhoods you could actually choose.
Why it matters: City scale: Major city (1M-3M) · population 1 millionSource: Planning implication
More Memphis guides
At a glance
Useful facts for planning
Key city facts that help put the pros and cons in context.
United States · Tennessee View source
Around the city
Memphis in context
Population scale, nearby city options and other geographic context that may affect your plans.
Population position among the city records used for this guide. Source
Population position among the included cities in the recorded region. Source
Straight-line map distance; actual journey times can be very different. Source
A nearby same-country city with a broadly similar population scale. Source
Approximate shortest-to-longest astronomical day length.
Harmonised GHSL urban-centre area; it may not match the municipal boundary. Source
Planning
How to decide whether Memphis fits your life
Use your own budget, neighbourhood assumptions, routes and non-negotiables instead of a universal city rating.
Test an ordinary weekday
Choose a realistic neighbourhood and map the repeated routes—work or study, groceries, healthcare, exercise, childcare or social commitments—not just weekend activities.
Re-test the budget
Use current housing and transport from the same neighbourhood scenario. A cheap-looking home can stop being cheap if the routine around it is costly or impractical.
Sources
Sources for this guide
Only sources that contribute to facts shown on this page are listed here.
Simplemaps World Cities
Open sourceCore city facts and geographic comparisons used on this page.
Population definitions can differ from municipal or harmonised urban-centre boundaries.GeoNames
Open sourceTime-zone and elevation reference used in the city facts above.
Its population field does not replace the Simplemaps source population.GHSL Urban Centre Database
Open sourceHarmonised urban-centre measurements used in the city facts above.
The GHSL urban-centre boundary can differ materially from municipal or other city definitions.Before you decide
Things to check now
- Write down your non-negotiables before reading more city rankings or opinions.
- Compare realistic housing, daily routes, healthcare, household needs and climate preferences from actual neighbourhoods.
- Use the same budget and assumptions for every alternative city.
- Do a trial stay that includes ordinary weekdays if the decision is long term.
Reference
Memphis at a glance
Population1 million
CountryUnited States
RegionTennessee
StatusCity
Coordinates35.11°N, 89.97°W
Time zoneAmerica/Chicago
Elevation record78 m
GHSL urban-centre area274.0 km²
Common questions
Questions about Memphis
What are the main cons of Memphis?
The main drawbacks or trade-offs covered here are Big-city scale can be the wrong fit if you want a simple routine.
What should I check before deciding?
Write down your non-negotiables before reading more city rankings or opinions. Compare realistic housing, daily routes, healthcare, household needs and climate preferences from actual neighbourhoods.
Compare alternatives
Other cities to compare with Memphis
How this guide worksWhat the comparisons mean
This guide combines city data with the source types that are relevant to this specific page. A fact is not treated as automatically positive or negative: the pros and cons explain how it may help or complicate the specific kind of visit or move covered by this page.
Fast-changing details such as prices, opening hours, visas, safety conditions, housing and exact journey times should always be checked again before you make a booking or commitment. Read the full methodology · Report a correction.