Moving to Memphis

Memphis anchors the tri-state Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the US Census Bureau estimated at approximately 1.34 million residents in 2024 — the 45th-largest metro in the United States. The city of Memphis proper carries a 2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimate of roughly 611,000 residents across 324 square miles on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, where Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas converge. That geography is not incidental: the Mississippi River corridor made Memphis one of the most significant freight crossroads in North America, and that logic still holds. FedEx Corporation is headquartered here — the company employs tens of thousands locally and runs its global air hub, the FedEx World Hub at Memphis International Airport (MEM), through the metro. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a global pediatric oncology and research institution, is one of the largest employers in the healthcare sector and has driven a significant expansion of the Memphis medical research workforce over the past decade. International Paper and AutoZone are among the other Fortune 500-class employers with deep Memphis roots. US Census ACS data show that Shelby County (Memphis's home county) has experienced persistent net domestic out-migration in recent years — net population losses driven primarily by domestic relocation, partially offset by international migration gains — making Memphis a notably affordable entry point for households relocating from higher-cost metros.

Moving costs in Memphis reflect the city's affordability profile. Full-service local moves in the metro typically run $100–$150 per hour for a standard two-person crew with a truck, per American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA, moving.org) industry benchmarks and local market data. A 3-bedroom local move within the city runs approximately $1,400–$2,800 total depending on access conditions, carry distances, and whether packing is included — well below comparable 3-bedroom costs in Nashville, Atlanta, or Charlotte. Neighborhood variables create meaningful spread across the metro. Midtown Memphis (Victorian Village, Vollintine-Evergreen) features older multi-story homes on dense tree-lined blocks where narrow driveways and front-stair access can add time and modest surcharges. Cooper-Young, one of the city's most walkable neighborhoods, has older bungalow stock where shuttle parking and stair carries are common. East Memphis (along Poplar Avenue and around Germantown Road) offers newer construction and more open driveway access, typically putting local moves at the lower end of the range. Out in the suburbs, Germantown and Collierville — two of the metro's most sought-after family suburbs with top-rated Shelby County Schools and well-maintained housing stock — are straightforward to move into and out of on a per-hour basis, though longer total drive times add to labor hours. Collierville sits roughly 25 miles east of downtown Memphis; factor that drive time into hourly estimates when comparing quotes. Average rent across Memphis as of mid-2025 was approximately $1,050 per month per RentCafe market data — roughly 36% below the national average — and median home sale prices have run in the $190,000–$280,000 range depending on the quarter and submarket.

Tennessee regulates intrastate household-goods movers through the Tennessee Department of Revenue (TDOR), Motor Carrier division, under the state's intrastate authority framework at tn.gov/revenue/motor-carrier. Any for-hire mover operating entirely within Tennessee must obtain TDOR intrastate authority before hauling — the application requires a US DOT number, a $50 filing fee plus $8 per registered vehicle, proof of liability insurance (Form E), and for household-goods carriers specifically, cargo insurance (Form H). Once approved, TDOR issues a permit card for each vehicle that must travel with the truck. Consumers can ask a prospective intrastate mover for their TDOR intrastate permit number and USDOT number and confirm both through TDOR and the FMCSA's SAFER system at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. One wrinkle unique to the Memphis area: because the metro straddles Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas, any move that crosses a state line — including a move from Memphis, TN to Southaven, MS or West Memphis, AR — is legally an interstate move, not an intrastate one. Interstate moves fall under FMCSA jurisdiction exclusively, and the carrier must hold active FMCSA operating authority (an MC number) in addition to a USDOT number. Always verify the correct license type for your specific origin and destination before signing a contract. For interstate complaints or disputes, contact FMCSA's consumer protection resource at protectyourmove.gov.

Once the truck is unloaded, Tennessee's post-arrival compliance calendar has firm deadlines. New residents must obtain a Tennessee driver's license from any Tennessee Driver Services Center within 30 days of establishing residency, per the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Vehicle registration with the Tennessee Department of Revenue must also be completed within 30 days of becoming a resident — per TDOR bulletin VR-6, out-of-state registrations are not indefinitely valid after you take up Tennessee residence. Both the license transfer and registration can typically be handled in a single visit to the appropriate county clerk or Driver Services Center location. For voter registration, Tennessee requires submission at least 30 days before any election; Memphis-area residents register through the Shelby County Election Commission (shelbyvote.com) or via Tennessee's online portal. One practical note on timing: Memphis summers are genuinely demanding — June through August brings sustained heat with temperatures regularly reaching the mid-to-upper 90s Fahrenheit and humidity that pushes the heat index well above 100°F per National Weather Service data. Scheduling the heavy-lifting portion of any summer move for early morning (7–9 AM crew start) and building in adequate hydration breaks is not optional advice. Moving in late September through April sidesteps the worst of the heat and typically offers broader carrier availability and more competitive rates.

Back to Tennessee

See the full state guide: Moving to Tennessee.