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Memphis vs New York City Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Memphis crime rate · New York City crime rate

Moving from Memphis, TN to New York City, NY?

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Is Memphis or New York City Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, New York City is safer than Memphis (Safety Score 19/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 9,407 for Memphis — 68% lower. Memphis has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where New York City has a 90% lower rate.

Note: New York City is 13.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Memphis — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

New York City — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Memphis, TN

Memphis, TN
Safety Score 1/100
Coverage 613,207
Total Crime Rate 9,406.9
Category Wins 0/7

New York City, NY

New York City, NY
Safety Score 19/100
Coverage 8,299,271
Total Crime Rate 3,039.7
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Memphis New York City Difference
Total Crime Rate 9,406.9 3,039.7 +6,367.2
Violent Crime Rate 2,508.0 671.4 +1,836.5
Murder Rate 40.6 3.9 +36.7
Rape Rate 70.0 23.4 +46.6
Robbery Rate 348.7 187.5 +161.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 2,042.1 456.2 +1,585.8
Property Crime Rate 6,899.0 2,368.3 +4,530.7
Burglary Rate 915.8 154.7 +761.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 4,399.5 2,015.0 +2,384.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 1,583.6 198.5 +1,385.1

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Memphis, TN to New York City, NY?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Memphis or New York City safer?

New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 9,407 for Memphis — a 68% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Memphis has a violent crime rate of 2,508.0 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. New York City has lower violent crime.

About Memphis, TN

Memphis, a city on the Mississippi River, is the birthplace of the blues and a major hub for the music industry. Its population is predominantly African American, reflecting a rich cultural heritage and diverse community. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 613,207, Memphis has a total crime rate of 9,406.9 per 100,000 residents.

About New York City, NY

New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.

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