Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
El Paso, TX
🏆 El Paso leads 13 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
El Paso
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
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 1.7 pts lower (5.1%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than El Paso
El Paso, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Homes cost $71k less ($159,300 vs $230,500)
Rent averages $90/mo less ($976 vs $1,066)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Chattanooga
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Median Income
$1,993
$57,703 vs $55,710/yr
Chattanooga
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.8% unemployment
El Paso
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
66% lower
278.4 vs 823.7 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$71k less
$159,300 vs $230,500
El Paso
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | El Paso, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $159,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $976 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $55,710 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 6.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 27.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 81.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | EL PASO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 2.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 677,181 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs El Paso's 90.2 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, El Paso leads 13 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 9 and El Paso 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 El Paso or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $159,300 median home), income ($57,703 vs $55,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and El Paso, TX are about 1,239 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.