Signals
Memphis
Mobile
Opportunity
27 · Bottom 4%
vs36 · Bottom 11%
Climate
68 · Bottom 41%
vs73 · Top 39%
Physical resilience
49 · Bottom 42%
vs26 · Bottom 25%
Housing affordability
75 · Top 50%
vs80 · Top 43%
Access
98 · Top 25%
vs97 · Top 36%
Economic stability
39 · Bottom 13%
vs36 · Bottom 10%
Measured values
| Metric | Memphis | Mobile | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 618,980 | 203,416 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $51,736 | $53,558 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,100 | $33,935 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,136/sq mi | 1,349/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $169,000 | $193,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,181 | $1,068 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 44.9% | 54.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | -1.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.0% | 32.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 23.1% | 18.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 92°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 43°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 54.9" | 60.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 24.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.2 | 37.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Memphis
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Mobile
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: Memphis, TN · Mobile, AL · How this is calculated: methodology