Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Chattanooga leads 13 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
45% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.1%)
Households earn $8,806 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
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 Macon-Bibb County
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($155,200 vs $230,500)
Rent averages $99/mo less ($967 vs $1,066)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Chattanooga
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chattanooga by $8,806/yr
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Median Income
$8,806
$57,703 vs $48,897/yr
Chattanooga
Violent Crime
45% lower
823.7 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Chattanooga
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$75k less
$155,200 vs $230,500
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 25.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 51.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 156,554 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 13 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 13 and Macon-Bibb County wins 9. 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 Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $155,200 median home), income ($57,703 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 180 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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