Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
181,288
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($230,500 vs $351,400)
27% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Rent averages $326/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,392)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $13,625/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Households earn $13,625 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Violent Crime
27% lower
823.7 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$121k less
$230,500 vs $351,400
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$13,625
$71,328 vs $57,703/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $71,328 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 54.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 4.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 12 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 12 and Nashville-Davidson 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 Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $351,400 median home), income ($57,703 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 115 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.