Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 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
Population
181,288
Seattle
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $649k less ($230,500 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $879/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,945)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $58,365/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
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $58,365 more per year on average
6% less violent crime than Chattanooga
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$649k less
$230,500 vs $879,900
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$58,365
$116,068 vs $57,703/yr
Seattle
Violent Crime
6% lower
775.1 vs 823.7 per 100k
Seattle
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 13 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 13 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $879,900 median home), income ($57,703 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Seattle, WA are about 2,086 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.