What are the schools like in Chattanooga, TN?

Chattanooga is served primarily by Hamilton County. The district operates 42 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, and 22 high schools.

What is the median household income in Chattanooga?

The median household income in Chattanooga, TN is $57,703 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Chattanooga, TN?

Chattanooga has an average high temperature of 51.0°F in January and 90.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 55.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 3.6 inches.

Chattanooga, TN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Chattanooga, TN affordable or expensive?

Chattanooga's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chattanooga is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $230,500 and the median rent is $1,066 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Chattanooga, TN?

Chattanooga has a violent crime rate of 823.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3942.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chattanooga, TN a Good Place to Live?

Chattanooga is a mid-sized city of 181,288 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $57,703 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Chattanooga stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Chattanooga is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Chattanooga city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.8

Chattanooga's overall cost of living index is 92.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chattanooga costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chattanooga, TN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$230,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,066	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	53.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,703	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Chattanooga's violent crime rate is 823.7 per 100,000 residents — 117% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

823.7 /100k

Property Crime

3942.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Chattanooga is served primarily by Hamilton County.

Metric	Chattanooga, TN	National Avg
School District	Hamilton County	—
Elementary Schools	42	—
Middle Schools	16	—
High Schools	22	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	34.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chattanooga sees average highs of 51.0°F in January and 90.5°F in July, with 55.0 inches of annual precipitation and 3.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chattanooga, TN
Average High — January	51.0°F
Average High — July	90.5°F
Annual Precipitation	55.0"
Annual Snowfall	3.6"

Demographics

Metric	Chattanooga, TN	National Avg
Population	181,288	—
Median Age	37.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	59.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	29.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.1%	18.9%
Asian	2.4%	6.3%
Under 18	20.0%	22.2%
65 and over	17.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ridgeside, TN 2 mi Red Bank, TN 4 mi East Ridge, TN 5 mi Lakeview, GA 6 mi Rossville, GA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN is covered by 17 ZIP codes:

37421 37343 37419 37416 37406 37405 37415 37411 37404 37409 37407 37410 37408 37403 37402 37351 37450

Chattanooga vs Other Cities

Chattanooga, TN vs Ridgeside, TN Chattanooga, TN vs Red Bank, TN Chattanooga, TN vs East Ridge, TN Chattanooga, TN vs Lakeview, GA Chattanooga, TN vs Rossville, GA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chattanooga, TN affordable or expensive?

Chattanooga's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chattanooga roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $230,500 and median rent is $1,066/month.

What is the crime rate in Chattanooga, TN?

Chattanooga's violent crime rate is 823.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3942.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Chattanooga?

Public schools in Chattanooga are operated by Hamilton County. The district has 42 elementary, 16 middle, and 22 high schools. 34.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to live?

Chattanooga, TN has a population of 181,288, a median household income of $57,703, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Chattanooga?

Chattanooga averages 51.0°F in January and 90.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.0 inches with about 3.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chattanooga?

Chattanooga, TN is covered by 17 ZIP codes: 37421, 37343, 37419, 37416, 37406, 37405, 37415, 37411, 37404, 37409, 37407, 37410, 37408, 37403, 37402, 37351, 37450.

What is the population of Chattanooga?

The population of Chattanooga, Tennessee is 181,288 with a median age of 37.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Chattanooga?

Key numbers for living in Chattanooga: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $230,500, median household income $57,703, crime index 205 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chattanooga side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.