CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 2000 CENSUS

Memphis Metro

Memphis, TN-MS-AR · 9 counties · 1,213,230 residents · 4,981.851 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Memphis has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $39,451. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. Median home value is $88,866.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 33.2
US median: 35.2
Average education
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,213,230
+13%since 1990
from 1,075,309 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
244 / sq mi
+13%since 1990
from 216 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
33.2
+6%since 1990
from 31.3 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
1.0M1.1M1.2M1.3M1.4M1990201020202024Memphis
20241.3M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,451
+14%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $26,356 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,941
+59%since 1990
from $12,537 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
15.7%
−3.6 ptssince 1990
from 19.2% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$88,866
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $62,486 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$551
+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $379 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
66.2%
+3.4 ptssince 1990
from 62.8% in 1990
33.8% rent
Afford Score
2.3
−5%since 1990
from 2.4 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Memphis on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic57.6%(619,838)
Black41.2%(442,739)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(7,833)
Asian0.8%(8,173)
Diversity Score63.2%(679,209)
2000
White, non-Hispanic51.9%(630,093)
Black43.3%(525,338)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(28,485)
Asian1.3%(15,789)
Diversity Score66.5%(806,304)
Diversity Score
66
+5%since 1990
from 63 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.9%
+3.8 ptssince 1990
from 18.1% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
78.8%
+7.0 ptssince 1990
from 71.8% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
7.5%
+1.4 ptssince 1990
from 6.2% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.0 min
−22%since 1990
from 20.4 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

In this metro

Principal cities

MemphisCENTRAL609,647
What's inside

9 component counties

Shelby CountyCENTRAL910,226DeSoto CountyCENTRAL197,918Tipton County62,287Crittenden CountyCENTRAL46,210Fayette County45,071Marshall County34,654Tate County28,725Tunica County8,819Benton County7,502
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Memphis

Birmingham
Pop 1,197,766
Louisville
Pop 1,402,509
Oklahoma City
Pop 1,512,813
Buffalo
Pop 1,155,653
Places similar to Memphis
Head to head

Compare Memphis side by side

MEMPHIS VS
Birmingham
Income$72,464+84%
Home value$241,872+172%
Population1,197,766−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MEMPHIS VS
Louisville
Income$75,127+90%
Home value$252,743+184%
Population1,402,509+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MEMPHIS VS
Oklahoma City
Income$72,641+84%
Home value$228,101+157%
Population1,512,813+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MEMPHIS VS
Buffalo
Income$72,257+83%
Home value$225,816+154%
Population1,155,653−14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

Memphis, TN-MS-AR has about 1,213,230 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

The typical household in Memphis, TN-MS-AR earns about $39,451 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Memphis, TN-MS-AR expensive?

In Memphis, TN-MS-AR, the median home is worth about $88,866, and the typical rent is about $551 a month.

How educated are people in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

About 21.9% of adults age 25 and over in Memphis, TN-MS-AR hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

About 15.7% of people in Memphis, TN-MS-AR live below the federal poverty line.

Has Memphis, TN-MS-AR grown since 1990?

Yes, Memphis, TN-MS-AR has grown since 1990. The population has added about 137,921 residents, a change of about 13 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Memphis with another metro

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →