Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Chattanooga leads 12 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Los Angeles
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $592k less ($230,500 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $725/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,791)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.1%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Los Angeles by $18,541/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,541 more per year on average
12% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Chattanooga
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
$592k less
$230,500 vs $822,600
Chattanooga
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.1% vs 7.7% unemployment
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 78.0°F
Los Angeles
Median Income
$18,541
$76,244 vs $57,703/yr
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
12% lower
728.5 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | 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 | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $76,244 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ 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- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 12 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 12 and Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $822,600 median home), income ($57,703 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Los Angeles, CA are about 1,880 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.