Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Visalia
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($230,500 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $223/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,289)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.1%)
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Visalia
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 Visalia by $17,955/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Visalia, CA
Pros
47% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Households earn $17,955 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 101.3 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$86k less
$230,500 vs $316,600
Chattanooga
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Visalia
Median Income
$17,955
$75,658 vs $57,703/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
47% lower
435.3 vs 823.7 per 100k
Visalia
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,289 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 55.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 12 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 12 and Visalia 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $316,600 median home), income ($57,703 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Visalia, CA are about 1,904 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.