Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Evansville, IN
🏆 Chattanooga leads 12 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Evansville
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
32% less violent crime than Evansville
Households earn $7,850 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.1%)
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 42°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 Evansville
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($121,100 vs $230,500)
Rent averages $149/mo less ($917 vs $1,066)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Chattanooga
Cons
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chattanooga by $7,850/yr
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Median Income
$7,850
$57,703 vs $49,853/yr
Chattanooga
Violent Crime
32% lower
823.7 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Chattanooga
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.7% unemployment
Evansville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$109k less
$121,100 vs $230,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Evansville, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $121,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $49,853 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 317⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 89.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 47.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 10.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 116,906 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Evansville's 89.8 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 12 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 12 and Evansville wins 10. 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 Evansville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $121,100 median home), income ($57,703 vs $49,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Evansville, IN are about 238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.