The Memphis metro area: Benton, Crittenden, DeSoto, Fayette, Marshall, Shelby, Tate, Tipton and Tunica counties · Population 1,341,924 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in the Memphis area
Household size in the Memphis area
| Period | Memphis area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.72 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.74 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.70 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.65 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in the Memphis area average 2.65 people, the same as the country as a whole. The typical household here is bigger than in Tennessee overall, where it has 2.53 people. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.72, as it has nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Memphis area
| Period | Memphis area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.8 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.7 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.6 | 39.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.7 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of the Memphis area is 37.7 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.8, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the east.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Memphis area
| Period | Memphis area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.3% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.4% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.3% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in the Memphis area: 16.3% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 0.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only four have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Memphis area
Renters in the Memphis area
| Period | Memphis area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.7% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.9% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.0% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.5% | 33.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in the Memphis area than nationally: 39.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 39.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the east. The renter share has risen 4.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Memphis area
| Period | Memphis area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 11.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 10.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in the Memphis area as nationally: 9.8%, against 9.6%. Vacancy is down 2.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Memphis area
| Period | Memphis area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in the Memphis area are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1983, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the west.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Memphis area
| Period | Memphis area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $912 | $761 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $991 | $837 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,080 | $961 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,428 | $1,286 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$516 | +$526 | +$606 |
Rent in the Memphis area runs $1,428 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in Tennessee overall ($1,286). Rents are up $516 a month from 2006–10, a 57% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.0% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Memphis area
Bachelor's degrees in the Memphis area
| Period | Memphis area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.5% | 23.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.6% | 25.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.0% | 27.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.5% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +7.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
About three in ten adults 25 and older in the Memphis area (30.5%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the southwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Memphis area
| Period | Memphis area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.8% | 83.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.4% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.8% | 87.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.2% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +6.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Memphis area is close to the national rate: 89.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Memphis area
| Period | Memphis area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 9.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in the Memphis area: 6.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Few large metro areas have higher unemployment: only seven of 100. Unemployment has fallen 3.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Memphis area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis area (all) | 2.65 | 37.7 | 16.3% | 39.5% | 9.8% | 1983 | $1,428 | 30.5% | 89.2% | 6.9% |
| Cordova | 2.56 | 38.3 | 12.2% | 42.6% | 7.4% | 1997 | $1,836 | 43.2% | 95.0% | 4.8% |
| Collierville | 2.87 | 41.0 | 6.2% | 22.6% | 5.8% | 1997 | $1,994 | 62.5% | 96.1% | 4.0% |
| Olive Branch | 2.79 | 39.1 | 11.1% | 15.6% | 4.9% | 2002 | $1,981 | 32.1% | 93.4% | 2.4% |
| Southaven | 2.69 | 37.1 | 14.9% | 28.6% | 8.6% | 1996 | $1,721 | 29.4% | 92.9% | 3.1% |
| Bartlett | 2.79 | 42.0 | 8.4% | 15.8% | 4.7% | 1990 | $1,893 | 35.6% | 94.7% | 4.2% |
| Germantown | 2.63 | 45.6 | 4.7% | 15.9% | 6.3% | 1986 | $2,190 | 71.7% | 98.2% | 3.3% |
| Arlington | 3.04 | 40.1 | 9.5% | 12.7% | 4.3% | 2003 | $1,940 | 44.3% | 95.6% | 2.7% |
| Horn Lake | 2.65 | 34.4 | 20.2% | 39.7% | 7.9% | 1990 | $1,459 | 15.8% | 86.8% | 5.2% |
| Hernando | 2.77 | 40.0 | 11.0% | 14.0% | 4.7% | 2000 | $1,227 | 35.9% | 90.7% | 2.6% |
| West Memphis | 2.56 | 36.6 | 25.0% | 53.3% | 15.6% | 1977 | $967 | 12.8% | 83.8% | 15.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Buffalo area · Birmingham area · Hartford area · Salt Lake City area · Richmond area · Louisville area · Raleigh area · Oklahoma City area · Milwaukee area · Jacksonville area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Memphis area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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