The Town FilesMemphis, Tennessee
City in Shelby County · population 633,104 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,000
- Household income
- $51,736
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 34.2
Memphis is a city of 633,104 people in Shelby County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $169,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more vibrant than 99% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 98% of Tennessee towns, better transit than 97% of Tennessee towns.
How Memphis ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Memphis is worth $169,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $51,736, which is more affordable than 68% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,181 a month. 44.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Memphis | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,000 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,181 | $863 |
| Median household income | $51,736 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 44.9% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Memphis
| People | Memphis | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.0% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.1% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 88.2% |
Weather in Memphis
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 33.3°F. About 54.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.7 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 72 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 45 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Memphis since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 27, 1994 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 13 deaths and 280 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 21, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 98 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 11, 1987.
Severe weather in Shelby County since 1996
Shelby County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4878: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 4, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4735: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Shelby County
Shelby County had 482,470 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,518 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Memphis itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Memphis
219 public schools with 100,646 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Station High | 9-12 | 1,935 | 17.9 |
| Southwind High | 9-12 | 1,622 | 20.5 |
| Whitehaven High | 9-12 | 1,549 | 19.1 |
| Overton High | 9-12 | 1,491 | 18.9 |
| Kingsbury High | 9-12 | 1,327 | 17.0 |
| Central High | 9-12 | 1,300 | 16.7 |
| Snowden Elementary/Middle | PK-8 | 1,272 | 15.9 |
| White Station Middle | 6-8 | 1,091 | 15.8 |
| Colonial Middle | 6-8 | 1,088 | 19.8 |
| Belle Forest Community School | PK-5 | 1,035 | 17.8 |
| Kate Bond Middle School | 6-8 | 1,013 | 18.1 |
| Lowrance Elementary/Middle | PK-8 | 914 | 17.6 |
Towns near Memphis
- Germantown, TN10.7 mi · 41,333 people · home $470,800
- Southaven, MS10.9 mi · 54,648 people · home $236,300
- Horn Lake, MS11.8 mi · 26,736 people · home $171,400
- Bartlett, TN12.0 mi · 57,786 people · home $310,400
- Olive Branch, MS12.8 mi · 39,711 people · home $290,000
- West Memphis, AR13.3 mi · 24,520 people · home $120,100
- Marion, AR15.0 mi · 13,752 people · home $212,400
- Collierville, TN15.9 mi · 51,324 people · home $485,900
Memphis questions
Is Memphis, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Memphis scores better for retirees than 1% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 1%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.2).
How much does a house cost in Memphis?
The median owner-occupied home in Memphis is valued at $169,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,736, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,181 a month.
What is the weather like in Memphis?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 33.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.9 inches of precipitation a year and 2.7 inches of snow.
Does Memphis get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Memphis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 27, 1994. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)