Moving from Concord, CA to Memphis, TN

A 2087 mi cross-country move between Concord and Memphis is 36h 23m on paper and typically three to five days in practice, through 7 states. Nearly every household line β€” rent, taxes, climate, commute β€” usually shifts. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data to make those differences visible on a single screen.

2087 mi Β· 36h 23m by car Β· TN β†’ AR β†’ OK β†’ TX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA

COL -20.3% Home values -80.5% Ξ” +1.4Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
2087 mi
Drive time
36h 23m
States
7
Fuel (25 mpg)
84 gal
Route throughTN β†’ AR β†’ OK β†’ TX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA
Primary highwaysI 40, CA 58, I 5
Major cities en routeLittle Rock, Norman, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Albuquerque

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

ConcordMemphisU.S. avg
All items (RPP)115.61392.179100.0
Rents172.58574.097100.0
Goods108.46596.221100.0
Services194.71879.807100.0

BEA RPP drops from 115.613 in Concord to 92.179 in Memphis, a 20.3% cut on the overall price level (2024).

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Concord β€” typical home
$742,769
Memphis β€” typical home
$144,710
Concord β€” typical rent
$2,512/mo
Memphis β€” typical rent
$1,247/mo

Expect roughly 20.3% lower home prices β€” ZHVI goes from $742,769 to $144,710 moving to Memphis.

YoY change: Concord -3.4%, Memphis -3.1%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsConcordMemphis
Annual avg temperature62Β°F63Β°F
January avg low41Β°F33Β°F
July avg high88Β°F92Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”2.7"
Annual precipitation16.1"54.9"

Annual average temperatures in Concord (62.0Β°F) and Memphis (63.4Β°F) stay within 5Β°F of each other (NOAA normals).

Memphis averages 2.7 in of snow a year on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals β€” a light winter by U.S. standards.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: CONCORD BUCHANAN FLD, CA US, MEMPHIS INTL AP, TN US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023ConcordMemphis
Population124,260629,063
Median household income$109,195$51,211
Median age38.634.3
Bachelor's degree or higher26.1%16.9%
Avg household size2.722.47

Memphis households earn about 20.3% less than Concord at the median β€” $109,195 β†’ $51,211 on ACS 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Concord MSA β€” median wage
$72,050
Memphis MSA β€” median wage
$43,400
Concord MSA β€” employment
2,422,210
Memphis MSA β€” employment
625,340

Top occupations in Memphis MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 106,230 $38,330
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 83,120 $40,640
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 51,140 $28,230
Sales and Related Occupations 50,680 $32,680
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations 39,480 $73,120

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Tennessee

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Tennessee income tax
no state income tax

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Tennessee's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • I-40 through the Smokies and I-75 near Jellico Mountain can see chain requirements in winter storms.
  • Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.
  • I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Air conditioning matters: July highs in Memphis average 92Β°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
  • Pack rain gear on top: Memphis averages 54.9 in of annual precipitation β€” waterproof jackets and boots are worth unpacking before the big boxes.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Tennessee after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

How does household income compare in Concord vs Memphis?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $51,211 in Memphis vs $109,195 in Concord β€” a 53.1% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

How much do homes cost in Memphis compared to Concord?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $144,710 in Memphis vs $742,769 in Concord β€” a 80.5% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

Is Memphis more expensive than Concord?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Memphis is 20.3% lower than Concord (92.179 vs 115.613, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

When is the best time to move from Concord to Memphis?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 2087 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How does the job market in Memphis compare to Concord?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $43,400 in the Memphis MSA vs $72,050 in the Concord MSA, on total employment of 625,340 and 2,422,210 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How far is Memphis, TN from Concord, CA?

The driving distance is 2087 mi and the route typically takes 36h 23m via I 40 and CA 58. The trip crosses 7 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Concord.

City profiles: Concord, CA Β· Memphis, TN.

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