Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 16 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
St. Petersburg
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Rent averages $344/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,410)
Homes cost $59k less ($230,500 vs $289,000)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Petersburg by $12,630/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
25% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Households earn $12,630 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$59k less
$230,500 vs $289,000
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$12,630
$70,333 vs $57,703/yr
St. Petersburg
Violent Crime
25% lower
619.6 vs 823.7 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $289,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 16 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 6 and St. Petersburg wins 16. 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $289,000 median home), income ($57,703 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and St. Petersburg, FL are about 527 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.