01 · the cities
Indianapolis
Indianapolis circles its downtown with a literal loop (the Mile Square) and hosts the Indy 500 every Memorial Day weekend like clockwork. Basketball is woven into the state DNA (Hoosiers, the movie, is essentially a documentary). The Cultural Trail connects six districts on bike-friendly paths through the heart of downtown. The food scene has quietly leveled up.
full dispatch→Memphis
Memphis is dry-rub ribs, Beale Street neon, and the rooms where Stax and Sun Records changed pop music forever. Graceland is a tourist pilgrimage that's still genuinely moving. The Mississippi rolls past, the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel is essential, and the BBQ debate (rib joints vs. the chopped-pork houses) is a local pastime. Soulful in the literal sense.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,511/mo
$1,436/mo
$75/mo less than Indianapolis (5%)
Median home price
Median home price
$296k
$244k
$52k less than Indianapolis
State income tax
State income tax
3.0%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,572/mo
$6,897/mo
Memphis has $325/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
174 days
185 days
11 more than Indianapolis
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
6 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
30 days
5 days
days below 20°F per year
Memphis has 6 more days above 95°F each year than Indianapolis. Indianapolis drops below 20°F on 25 more days per year than Memphis.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
62 / 100
56 / 100
6.0 pts behind Indianapolis
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
35 routes
32 routes
3 fewer direct routes than Indianapolis
Metro size
Metro size
2.1M metro
1.3M metro
Indianapolis has 2.5x more events per month than Memphis.
the verdict
3
Indianapolis
categories won
6
Memphis
categories won
Memphis wins on money and weather. Indianapolis has the edge on lifestyle.
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