Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Chattanooga leads 16 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Lynn
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
100,653
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $212k less ($230,500 vs $442,800)
Rent averages $445/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,511)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Lynn
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.1%)
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lynn by $12,343/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lynn, MA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Households earn $12,343 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,800
Higher rents — median is $1,511/mo
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$212k less
$230,500 vs $442,800
Chattanooga
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.7% unemployment
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 80.3°F
Lynn
Median Income
$12,343
$70,046 vs $57,703/yr
Lynn
Violent Crime
30% lower
574.6 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $442,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,511⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $70,046 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 47.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 100,653 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 48.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 16 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 16 and Lynn wins 6. 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $442,800 median home), income ($57,703 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Lynn, MA are about 922 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.