Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Columbia, SC
🏆 Columbia leads 12 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Columbia
South Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
136,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Households earn $3,608 more per year on average
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
Columbia, SC
Pros
7% less violent crime than Chattanooga
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 51°F
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.1%)
Median income trails Chattanooga by $3,608/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Median Income
$3,608
$57,703 vs $54,095/yr
Chattanooga
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.1% vs 7.9% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.8 on the COL index
Columbia
Violent Crime
7% lower
769.9 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Columbia, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.9 |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,105 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $54,095 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Richland 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 48.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 136,754 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 28.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Columbia's 92.9 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 0% 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 $226,200 median home), income ($57,703 vs $54,095), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Columbia, SC are about 257 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.