Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Chattanooga leads 17 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,288
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ 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 3.5 pts lower (5.1%)
9% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Rent averages $184/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,250)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
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
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $15k less ($215,500 vs $230,500)
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Chattanooga
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Violent Crime
9% lower
823.7 vs 908.7 per 100k
Chattanooga
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$15k less
$215,500 vs $230,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 50.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 17 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 17 and Philadelphia wins 5. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $215,500 median home), income ($57,703 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Philadelphia, PA are about 650 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.