Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chattanooga
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $264k less ($230,500 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $599/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $25,083/yr
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
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $25,083 more per year on average
4% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$264k less
$230,500 vs $494,100
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Median Income
$25,083
$82,786 vs $57,703/yr
Lakewood
Violent Crime
4% lower
787.2 vs 823.7 per 100k
Lakewood
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chattanooga wins 11 and Lakewood wins 11. 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $494,100 median home), income ($57,703 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Lakewood, CO are about 1,134 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.