Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Chattanooga leads 14 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
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 6.2 pts lower (5.1%)
Households earn $14,851 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 39°F
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
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($96,900 vs $230,500)
59% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Rent averages $124/mo less ($942 vs $1,066)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Chattanooga by $14,851/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Median Income
$14,851
$57,703 vs $42,852/yr
Chattanooga
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
5.1% vs 11.3% unemployment
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 86.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.8 on the COL index
Reading
Violent Crime
59% lower
337.2 vs 823.7 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$134k less
$96,900 vs $230,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 49.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 14 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 14 and Reading wins 8. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $96,900 median home), income ($57,703 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Reading, PA are about 626 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.