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Memphis, TN

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Memphis, TN

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Demographics

Majority BlackSimpson's Diversity Index: 54
Population629,063
Foreign Born5.1%
Population Density2,171people per mi²
Median Age34.3 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

80/100

20% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Memphis, Tennessee

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $18k$34k
Comfortable $31k$45k
Luxury $93k+$143k+
Elite (Top 5%) $137k+$212k+
Affordability Ratio

114%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean92%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
9
Negative
4

Groceries

0 within 10 miles

10.1mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

1.2mi

Airport

General DeWitt Spain Airport

3.7mi

Post Office

USPS — Memphis, TN

11.8mi

Critical Amenities

Golf1Nearest 6.7 mi
Camping20Nearest 1.9 mi
Marina3Nearest 0.3 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range2Nearest 4.7 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$51k+6.5%
32% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$515k
21% below US avg
College Educated
28.2%
19% below US avg
WFH
8.0%
44% below US avg
Homeownership
46.0%
30% below US avg
Median Home
$157k
44% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
F
High Risk

Significantly higher crime rates than 95% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
68.8
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−15.0%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−24.1%
Homicide
0.31 / 1k Residents380% above state avg
Robbery
2.43 / 1k Residents485% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
15.20 / 1k Residents273% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−5.8%
Burglary
7.15 / 1k Residents251% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
33.56 / 1k Residents179% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
9.00 / 1k Residents298% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+23Solidly Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Memphis, Tennessee
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%80%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Property Rights
C
FairIJ Grade C
Firearm Rights
A-
GreatFPC Grade A-
Homeschooling
C+
WeakModerate regulation

Energy independence: Importer (25% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
C+
LimitedHerd shares only
Gambling Laws
C+
LimitedTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season244 days327 frost-free
Annual Rainfall56.8"
Elevation285 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
D
Vulnerable

Multiple tactical vulnerabilities. Population density, target proximity, or disaster risk are likely compounding. A retreat property and exit planning is required.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
F
Poor0.2 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor2,171/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B-
Fair7 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorEarthquake
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 690 mi · coast 327 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$554.7M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityMemphis633k people are 0.2 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital197 miNashville, TN
Nearest Prison0.3 mi5 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-15T23:51:13.000Z

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