01 · the cities
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→Louisville
Louisville is bourbon, the Derby, Muhammad Ali, and the Hot Brown sandwich (an open-faced turkey-and-cheese situation invented at the Brown Hotel). Derby week is a citywide event where people dress like they're at a wedding for a horse. The Highlands neighborhood has the best dive bars, the Urban Bourbon Trail downtown takes a full weekend. Pronounce it 'Loo-uh-vul' and you'll fit in.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,436/mo
$1,368/mo
$68/mo less than Memphis (5%)
Median home price
Median home price
$244k
$282k
$39k more than Memphis
State income tax
State income tax
0%
4.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,897/mo
$6,590/mo
Memphis has $307/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
185 days
181 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
6 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
5 days
15 days
days below 20°F per year
Memphis has 5 more days above 95°F each year than Louisville. Louisville drops below 20°F on 10 more days per year than Memphis.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
56 / 100
54 / 100
2.0 pts behind Memphis
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
32 routes
22 routes
10 fewer direct routes than Memphis
Metro size
Metro size
1.3M metro
1.4M metro
Memphis has 2.6x fewer events per month than Louisville.
the verdict
6
Memphis
categories won
2
Louisville
categories won
Memphis leads on money and lifestyle and wins overall.
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