Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
East Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Chattanooga leads 14 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
East Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $352k less ($230,500 vs $582,400)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Rent averages $303/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,369)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.1%)
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
Median income trails East Los Angeles by $6,416/yr
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Households earn $6,416 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Chattanooga
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$352k less
$230,500 vs $582,400
Chattanooga
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.3% unemployment
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 82.0°F
East Los Angeles
Median Income
$6,416
$64,119 vs $57,703/yr
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
32% lower
558.4 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | East Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $582,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,369⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $64,119 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 11.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 117,222 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 34.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs East Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 14 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 14 and East Los Angeles wins 8. 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 East Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $582,400 median home), income ($57,703 vs $64,119), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and East Los Angeles, CA are about 1,866 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.