Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Chattanooga leads 16 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Newark
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (5.1%)
Homes cost $82k less ($230,500 vs $312,300)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Households earn $11,243 more per year on average
Rent averages $207/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,273)
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
Newark, NJ
Pros
29% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Chattanooga
Median income trails Chattanooga by $11,243/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Income
$11,243
$57,703 vs $46,460/yr
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$82k less
$230,500 vs $312,300
Chattanooga
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
5.1% vs 10.7% unemployment
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 86.8°F
Newark
Violent Crime
29% lower
581.2 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 16 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 16 and Newark 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $312,300 median home), income ($57,703 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Newark, NJ are about 719 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.