Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Denton, TX
🏆 Denton leads 13 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Denton
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $66k less ($230,500 vs $296,100)
Rent averages $198/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,264)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Denton by $14,218/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Denton, TX
Pros
75% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Households earn $14,218 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$66k less
$230,500 vs $296,100
Denton
Median Income
$14,218
$71,921 vs $57,703/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
75% lower
204.2 vs 823.7 per 100k
Denton
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Denton, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $296,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,264 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $71,921 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | DENTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 38.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 142,262 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Denton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Denton leads 13 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 9 and Denton wins 13. 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 Denton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $296,100 median home), income ($57,703 vs $71,921), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Denton, TX are about 692 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.