Chattanooga, Tennessee
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Chattanooga, TN.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Chattanooga, TN?
Chattanooga planning snapshot: population 191,496, housing index 86 (below the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $259,200, median rent $1,155, and income near $61,028. Expect 89°F summer highs, 34°F winter lows, and about 21-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 1070.1 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 86U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $259,200U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,155U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $61,028U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.4%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 21 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 1070.1per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 89°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Chattanooga compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 191,496City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $61,028Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year22% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 86ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year14% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $259,200City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year15% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,155City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year14% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.4%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 20260.8 pts below U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 21 min16% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 2936% below catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 1070.1per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)91% above catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 5557.4per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)85% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 89°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals2.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 34°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (35°F)Catalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 55 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals66% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 242As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Chattanooga grew 12.3% from 170,574 in 2010 to 191,496 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Chattanooga, TN expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Compared with the U.S. average, Chattanooga runs 14 points lower on MapsToIt's ACS housing index. Use that single number as a quick filter, then dig into home and rent cells for the budget you actually need.
- Housing cost index 86 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $259,200 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,155 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Chattanooga, TN?
Budget first around $1,155/month rent or $259,200 purchase prices — both are MapsToIt ACS medians, not listing ask averages. National ACS medians are $1,348 rent and $303,400 home value for context.
- Median home value $259,200
- Median rent $1,155/month
- Median household income $61,028
What is the job market like in Chattanooga, TN?
Labor-market context for Chattanooga: unemployment 3.4% and median income $61,028. Those are BLS LAUS (county) and ACS figures — industry mix still matters more than the headline rate alone.
- Unemployment 3.4% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $61,028
How long is the typical commute in Chattanooga, TN?
Plan on roughly 21 minutes each way in Chattanooga. Walk Score estimates around 29 shape how car-dependent daily errands feel. Compare that with the 25-minute catalog average before you lock a neighborhood.
- 21 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 29/100
Is Chattanooga, TN safer than similar U.S. cities?
Chattanooga's FBI-derived violent rate (~1070.1/100k) sits at or above the catalog average of mapped MapsToIt cities. Use the figure as a screening signal, then verify the blocks you would actually live on.
- Violent 1070.1 per 100k
- Property 5557.4 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Chattanooga, TN?
Chattanooga's climate profile: 89°F summer peaks, 34°F winter mornings, 55" annual rainfall, and 242 sunny days — from the nearest NOAA normals station.
- Summer high 89°F
- Winter low 34°F
- 55 in rain · 242 sunny days
Music/tourism hubs and auto manufacturing corridors sit under humid summers. With about 55 inches of rain a year, wet-season drainage and mold checks are worth asking about. Average one-way commute time is about 21 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 29/100. Labor-market readings near 3.4% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. FBI CIUS Table 8 violent-offense rates run comparatively high (~1070.1 per 100k), so block-by-block due diligence is especially important.
About 191,496 people live in Chattanooga, TN. With median income around $61,028 and a cost index of 86, the market reads below the national housing-cost baseline. Entry home prices around $259,200 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
Chattanooga is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Chattanooga with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Chattanooga city, 1600000US4714000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Hamilton County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013882 CHATTANOOGA LOVELL AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19