Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Chattanooga leads 13 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $394k less ($230,500 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $787/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,853)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
11% less violent crime than Richmond
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.1%)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $28,915/yr
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
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,915 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Chattanooga
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Violent Crime
11% lower
823.7 vs 923.1 per 100k
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$394k less
$230,500 vs $624,800
Chattanooga
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
19.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$28,915
$86,618 vs $57,703/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 13 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 13 and Richmond wins 9. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $624,800 median home), income ($57,703 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Richmond, CA are about 2,057 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.