Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Chattanooga leads 14 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Rochester
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ 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 3.4 pts lower (5.1%)
Households earn $13,547 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
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
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($111,400 vs $230,500)
29% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chattanooga by $13,547/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Income
$13,547
$57,703 vs $44,156/yr
Chattanooga
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.1% vs 8.5% unemployment
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Violent Crime
29% lower
582.3 vs 823.7 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$119k less
$111,400 vs $230,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 155⚠ 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 | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 10.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 14 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 14 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $111,400 median home), income ($57,703 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Rochester, NY are about 693 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.