Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Chattanooga leads 12 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Vancouver
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $173k less ($230,500 vs $403,400)
Rent averages $459/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,525)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.1%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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 Vancouver by $15,923/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vancouver, WA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Households earn $15,923 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$173k less
$230,500 vs $403,400
Chattanooga
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$15,923
$73,626 vs $57,703/yr
Vancouver
Violent Crime
29% lower
582.3 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 12 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 12 and Vancouver wins 10. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $403,400 median home), income ($57,703 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Vancouver, WA are about 2,075 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.