Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Chattanooga leads 15 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,288
Houston
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
28% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.1%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $169/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,235)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
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 Houston by $2,737/yr
Houston, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 51°F
Households earn $2,737 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.1%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Violent Crime
28% lower
823.7 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Chattanooga
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Median Income
$2,737
$60,440 vs $57,703/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $235,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $60,440 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 15 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 15 and Houston wins 7. 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $235,000 median home), income ($57,703 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Houston, TX are about 694 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.