Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
San Bernardino, 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
San Bernardino
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($230,500 vs $347,100)
8% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.1%)
Rent averages $253/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,319)
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
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 San Bernardino by $3,620/yr
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Households earn $3,620 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Chattanooga
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Violent Crime
8% lower
823.7 vs 897.1 per 100k
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$117k less
$230,500 vs $347,100
Chattanooga
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.1% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Median Income
$3,620
$61,323 vs $57,703/yr
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,319 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $61,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 197⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 13 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 13 and San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $347,100 median home), income ($57,703 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and San Bernardino, CA are about 1,816 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.