Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
150,620
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 3.8 pts lower (5.1%)
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $93/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,159)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
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
Median income trails Pasadena by $6,995/yr
Pasadena, TX
Pros
31% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Homes cost $59k less ($171,600 vs $230,500)
Households earn $6,995 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 51°F
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.1%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.1% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Income
$6,995
$64,698 vs $57,703/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
31% lower
566.1 vs 823.7 per 100k
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$59k less
$171,600 vs $230,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,159 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $64,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 12 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 12 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $171,600 median home), income ($57,703 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Pasadena, TX are about 688 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.