Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chattanooga
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Rent averages $548/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,614)
Homes cost $94k less ($230,500 vs $324,800)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 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
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $6,341/yr
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
30% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 51°F
Households earn $6,341 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$94k less
$230,500 vs $324,800
Chattanooga
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$6,341
$64,044 vs $57,703/yr
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
30% lower
575.8 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chattanooga wins 11 and West Palm Beach wins 11. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $324,800 median home), income ($57,703 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and West Palm Beach, FL are about 650 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.