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Memphis vs St. Louis: Crime & Safety Comparison (2026)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2023 FBI UCR data

Memphis has a crime rate of 74 per 1,000 residents vs St. Louis's 77 per 1,000, making Memphis 4% safer overall. Memphis earns a F safety grade compared to St. Louis's F. Both figures are based on 2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

F

Memphis

Tennessee

Overall GradeF
Violent CrimeF
Property CrimeF
Crime Rate74/1K
Percentile1%
F

St. Louis

Missouri

Overall GradeF
Violent CrimeF
Property CrimeF
Crime Rate77/1K
Percentile1%

Head-to-Head Crime Comparison

MetricMemphisSt. Louis
Overall Crime Rate74/1K77/1K
Violent Crime Rate1900.01900.0
Property Crime Rate5500.05800.0
Murder Rate27.926.2
Assault Rate1402.41314.8
Robbery Rate312.8351.8
Burglary Rate763.2739.0
Theft Rate4760.54555.6
Vehicle Theft Rate1296.8752.7

Crime rates per 100,000 residents. 2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data. Lower rates are better (safer).

Category Winner Summary

Out of 9 crime categories, Memphis is safer in 3 and St. Louis is safer in 5, with 1 tied.

Victim Odds Comparison

In Memphis, you have a 1 in 14 chance of being a crime victim per year vs 1 in 13 in St. Louis.

Full Safety Reports

F
Memphis, Tennessee Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends
F
St. Louis, Missouri Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends

Weather Comparison: Memphis vs St. Louis

Memphis Climate Overview

Annual High72.5°F
Annual Low53.4°F
Annual Rain52.1"
Annual Snow3.0"
Comfortable Months4
Best MonthMay
Worst MonthJanuary
Monthly Temperature
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
ColdComfortableWarm

St. Louis Climate Overview

Annual High66.4°F
Annual Low48.4°F
Annual Rain39.2"
Annual Snow16.1"
Comfortable Months6
Best MonthSeptember
Worst MonthDecember
Monthly Temperature
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
ColdComfortableWarm

Monthly Temperature Comparison

MemphisSt. LouisHigh/Low °F range
20°40°60°80°100°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Memphis is 3°F warmer in summer than St. Louis, but St. Louis is 7°F colder in winter than Memphis. St. Louis gets significantly more snow (16" vs 3"). Memphis is wetter with 52" of annual rain compared to 39". St. Louis has more comfortable weather months (6 vs 4).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Memphis safer than St. Louis?
As of 2026, Memphis is 4% safer overall, with a crime rate of 74 per 1,000 residents compared to St. Louis's 77. Memphis earns a F safety grade vs St. Louis's F. Based on 2023 FBI UCR data.
Which city has more violent crime, Memphis or St. Louis?
St. Louis has more violent crime at 1900 per 100,000 residents. Memphis is safer for violent crime. The national average is 363.8 per 100,000.
What is the crime rate in Memphis vs St. Louis?
Memphis has a crime rate of 74 per 1,000 (violent: 1900/100K, property: 5500/100K). St. Louis has 77 per 1,000 (violent: 1900/100K, property: 5800/100K).
Should I move to Memphis or St. Louis?
From a safety perspective, Memphis has lower crime rates across most categories. However, safety is just one factor. Memphis (pop. 609,647) and St. Louis (pop. 278,144) differ in cost of living, job market, climate, and culture. Memphis's F safety grade is a plus, but research all factors before deciding.
How do Memphis and St. Louis compare for property crime?
Memphis has lower property crime at 5500 per 100K vs St. Louis's 5800. The national average is 1,832 per 100K. Theft is the most common property crime in both cities.

Related Comparisons

Memphis vs DetroitMemphis vs New OrleansSt. Louis vs DetroitSt. Louis vs BaltimoreSt. Louis vs Kansas City

2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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