City · Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, city, in Shelby County, Tennessee. Memphis had 609,647 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 633,104 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 618,980 (±62). GEOID 4748000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
609,647
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 633,104 · ACS 2020-2024: 618,980 ±62
Median household income
$51,736
±$1,072 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$169,000
±$3,795 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$1,181
±$12 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
Where is Memphis and what county is it in?
Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee. It covers 289.8 square miles of land, 2,185 residents per square mile in 2020.
Memphis is in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 9 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Memphis, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 609,647 people lived in Memphis on July 1, 2025, down 3.0% since 2020, while Tennessee grew 5.8%. The 2020 Census counted 633,104 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 618,980 (±62).
| Measure | Memphis | Shelby County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 618,980 ±62 | 919,173 | −32,952 |
| Households | 253,120 ±1,828 | 362,741 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.39 ±0.02 | 2.49 | −0.14 |
| Housing units | 289,887 ±1,402 | 404,333 | −10,026 |
Memphis's population since 2000
From 650,100 in 2000 to 609,647 in 2025: down 6.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Memphis as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Memphis?
The median resident of Memphis is 34.2 years old; 25.2% are under 18 and 14.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 62.7%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 22.4%. 7.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Memphis | Shelby County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 ±0.3 | 35.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.2% ±0.3 pts | 25.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.4% ±0.2 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Male | 47.4% ±0.3 pts | 47.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10.4% ±0.3 pts | 8.8% | +3.2 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 22.4% ±0.4 pts | 32.7% | −3.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 62.7% ±0.5 pts | 52.3% | −1.1 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±0.2 pts | 2.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3% ±0.2 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.7% ±0.4 pts | 7.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 11.5% ±0.4 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.2% ±0.3 pts | 5.9% | – |
| With a disability | 13.7% ±0.4 pts | 12.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 14.7% ±0.6 pts | 12.0% | +1.0 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.2% ±0.5 pts | 89.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 28.0% ±0.7 pts | 34.3% | +1.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.3% ±0.4 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.4% ±0.7 pts | 87.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.3% ±0.3 pts | 2.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Memphis earn?
Half of Memphis's 253,120 households earn less than $51,736 a year (±$1,072), against $63,767 in Shelby County and $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 it was $50,739 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 23.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Memphis | Shelby County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,736 ±$1,072 | $63,767 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $78,517 ±$2,277 | $96,640 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,100 ±$933 | $39,083 | +$1,588 |
| People below the poverty line | 23.1% ±0.9 pts | 17.8% | −2.0 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 35.7% ±2.0 pts | 26.6% | −5.1 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 19.9% ±0.7 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.7% ±0.4 pts | 94.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.5% ±0.7 pts | 89.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Memphis?
Owners occupy 44.9% of Memphis's occupied homes and renters 55.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $169,000 by its owner (±$3,795). The median renter pays $1,181 a month including utilities, and 46.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Memphis | Shelby County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $169,000 ±$3,795 | $249,100 | +$43,715 |
| Median gross rent | $1,181 ±$12 | $1,232 | +$72 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.9% ±1.4 pts | 45.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,420 ±$27 | $1,682 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 44.9% ±0.8 pts | 54.1% | −1.7 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 55.1% ±0.8 pts | 45.9% | – |
| Housing units | 289,887 ±1,402 | 404,333 | −10,026 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.1% ±0.6 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 59.5% ±0.7 pts | 66.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.1% ±0.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8% ±0.2 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.8% ±0.4 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.7% ±0.4 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 10.3% ±0.5 pts | 8.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Memphis work and get to work?
76.2% of Memphis's workers drive alone and 9.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.3%.
| Measure | Memphis | Shelby County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.8% ±0.7 pts | 64.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 8.3% ±0.5 pts | 7.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 76.2% ±0.8 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.4% ±0.6 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 1.7% ±0.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.2% ±0.6 pts | 10.8% | +6.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.1 min ±0.4 | 22.3 min | −0.6 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Memphis?
187 census tracts lie mostly in Memphis, and 19 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $12,132 (Tract 50) to $182,250 (Tract 85).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 88Shelby County | 7,862 | $41,583 |
| Tract 211.41Shelby County | 7,741 | $89,205 |
| Tract 118Shelby County | 6,680 | $55,694 |
| Tract 108.10Shelby County | 6,653 | $58,581 |
| Tract 227Shelby County | 6,506 | $28,621 |
| Tract 102.20Shelby County | 6,127 | $39,899 |
| Tract 102.10Shelby County | 5,979 | $41,373 |
| Tract 224.10Shelby County | 5,954 | $65,264 |
| Tract 213.20Shelby County | 5,912 | $106,705 |
| Tract 211.43Shelby County | 5,900 | $85,617 |
| Tract 106.10Shelby County | 5,879 | $37,741 |
| Tract 211.22Shelby County | 5,842 | $59,246 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Memphis) · Census block assignment files
How does Memphis compare with other places in Tennessee?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Memphis is the 29th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 2nd-most populous of 345 in Tennessee.
Memphis ranks 184th of 287 places in Tennessee with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 2nd | 345 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 212th | 230 |
| Residents per square mile | 4th | 289 |
| Median household income | 184th | 287 |
| Per capita income | 113th | 289 |
| Median home value | 206th | 285 |
| Median gross rent | 60th | 265 |
| Poverty rate | 54th | 239 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 80th | 276 |
| Median age | 252nd | 289 |
| Owner-occupied share | 273rd | 289 |
| Work from home | 114th | 167 |
| Travel time to work | 236th | 288 |
Memphis's figures with every place in Tennessee (CSV)
Every place in Tennessee, sortable · Compare Memphis with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Memphis?
2 of the 57 figures for Memphis on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Memphis are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Memphis.