Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Chattanooga leads 16 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,288
Tacoma
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($230,500 vs $415,300)
Rent averages $423/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,489)
23% less violent crime than Tacoma
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $21,382/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
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $21,382 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) 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
Violent Crime
23% lower
823.7 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$185k less
$230,500 vs $415,300
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$21,382
$79,085 vs $57,703/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Tacoma, 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 | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 16 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 16 and Tacoma wins 6. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $415,300 median home), income ($57,703 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Tacoma, WA are about 2,086 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.