Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Rent averages $756/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $122k less ($230,500 vs $352,600)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 105°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $30,053/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
Surprise, AZ
Pros
87% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Households earn $30,053 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Chattanooga
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$122k less
$230,500 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$30,053
$87,756 vs $57,703/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
87% lower
109.1 vs 823.7 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.1% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
14.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 7 and Surprise wins 15. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $352,600 median home), income ($57,703 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Surprise, AZ are about 1,550 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.