Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Columbia, MO
🏆 Columbia leads 12 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Columbia
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 39°F
Homes cost $18k less ($230,500 vs $248,600)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 4.0%)
Median income trails Columbia by $2,752/yr
Columbia, MO
Pros
58% less violent crime than Chattanooga
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Households earn $2,752 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Chattanooga
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$18k less
$230,500 vs $248,600
Columbia
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$2,752
$60,455 vs $57,703/yr
Columbia
Violent Crime
58% lower
347.5 vs 823.7 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Columbia, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $248,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $997 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $60,455 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (123) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | COLUMBIA 93 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 44.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 17.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 126,172 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 48.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Columbia's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Columbia leads 12 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 10 and Columbia wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Chattanooga to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $248,600 median home), income ($57,703 vs $60,455), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Columbia, MO are about 474 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.