Memphis, TN Local Data & Statistics

State: TN

Total population: 618,980 Household income: $51,736 Rent: $1,181

Overview

Total population

618,980

Rent

$1,181

Year built

1970

Household income

$51,736

Per capita income

$33,100

Poverty rate

23.1%

Unemployment rate

5.0%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

51.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Tennessee

Total population

618,980

Adults over 25

404,390

Total households

253,120

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$51,736

Per capita income

$33,100

Poverty rate

23.1%

Unemployment rate

5.0%

Rent over 30% of income

51.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,181

Year built

1970

Households that rent

55.1%

Households that own

44.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

23.8%

Black

62.9%

Asian

1.7%

Two or more races

5.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

10.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

89.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

90.8%

Commute time to work

21 mins

Work from home

9.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

33.2%

High school graduate or GED

30.4%

Some college or associate degree

8.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

28%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Memphis, TN with: Tennessee United States

Memphis, TN

Total population618,980

Rent$1,181

Year built1970

Household income$51,736

Per capita income$33,100

Poverty rate23.1%

Unemployment rate5.0%

Tennessee State

Total population7,066,383

Rent$1,189

Year built1987

Household income$69,595

Per capita income$39,437

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate3.4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityMemphis, TN	StateTennessee	CountryUnited States
Total population	618,980	7,066,383	334,922,499
Rent	$1,181	$1,189	$1,413
Year built	1970	1987	1980
Household income	$51,736	$69,595	$80,734
Per capita income	$33,100	$39,437	$44,673
Poverty rate	23.1%	13.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	5.0%	3.4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Memphis, TN, Tennessee and United States →

Summary for Memphis, TN

Memphis is located in Tennessee.

Rent & Income

In Memphis, the typical monthly rent is $1,181 and the typical household income is $51,736. Rent here is similar to Tennessee and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Tennessee and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 23.1%, which is higher than in both Tennessee and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 55.1% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 51.8% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 28% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 5.0%, which is higher than both Tennessee and the national rate.

Memphis, TN — Rent vs Household Income

Memphis, TN — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Memphis, TN compares in Tennessee (14 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,181	4 / 14	from lower rent	$907 – $1,923
Household income	$51,736	14 / 14	from higher income	$51,736 – $138,598
Poverty rate	23.1%	14 / 14	from lower poverty	3.2% – 23.1%
Unemployment rate	5%	14 / 14	from lower unemployment	2.5% – 5%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Tennessee with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Memphis, TN

Rent

For typical rent levels, Memphis is ranked 4th out of 14 major areas in Tennessee. Statewide values span from $907 in Kingsport, TN to $1,923 in Franklin, TN.

Household income

Looking at household income, Memphis places 14th out of 14 significant areas. Incomes across Tennessee range between $51,736 in Memphis, TN and $138,598 in Collierville, TN.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Memphis ranks 14th out of 14 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 3.2% in Collierville, TN to 23.1% in Memphis, TN.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Memphis in 14th place among 14 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 2.5% in Spring Hill, TN to 5% in Memphis, TN.

💰 Rent in Memphis, TN (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,181 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Memphis, TN

Annual Household Income: $51,736

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Memphis, TN

Estimated Rate: 23.1%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Memphis, TN

In Memphis, TN, households that rent: 139,512 (55.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	139,512	55.1%
Owner-Occupied	113,608	44.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Memphis, TN

In Memphis, TN, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 72,218 (51.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	72,218	51.8%
Other renter households	67,294	48.2%
Total renter households	139,512	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Memphis, TN

Less than High School: 134,066 people (33.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 122,938 people (30.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 34,008 people (8.4%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 113,378 people (28%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 404,390

📊 Unemployment Rate in Memphis, TN

Estimated Rate: 5.0%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Detroit, MI636,644 Portland, OR642,715 Las Vegas, NV650,873 Baltimore, MD577,193 Boston, MA663,972 Milwaukee, WI569,756 Washington, DC672,079 Albuquerque, NM562,488 El Paso, TX678,147 Oklahoma City, OK688,693

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.