Living in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Chattanooga · Census data 2020–2024
Chattanooga has 185,783 residents with a median age of 36.3. The median household income is $64,523 (7% lower than the Tennessee median), the median home value is $283,200, the median rent is $1,256/month.
Chattanooga at a glance
- Population
- 185,783
- Median age
- 36.3State: 38.9
- Median household income
- $64,523State: $69,595
- Median home value
- $283,200State: $286,700
- Median rent
- $1,256/moState: $1,189
- Homeowners
- 52.4%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 36%
- Average commute
- 19 min
Is Chattanooga a good place to live?
Pros: Home values about the same as the state median; an average commute of 19 minutes.
Cons: Median household income 7% lower than the Tennessee median; unemployment of 5.4%; a poverty rate of 19.1%.
The weather is best in April–May and September–October.
Cost of living in Chattanooga
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Chattanooga the median home value is $283,200, 15% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $1,256 per month, which is 28.6% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,564 a month in housing costs.
Chattanooga median household income
The median household income in Chattanooga is $64,523 and the income per person is $41,600. 19.1% of residents live below the poverty line (Tennessee: 13.8%).
Housing in Chattanooga: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 87,970
- Owner-occupied
- 52.4%
- Renter-occupied
- 47.6%
- Vacant
- 10.1%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1976
- Average household size
- 2.26
Chattanooga demographics
- Population
- 185,783
- Median age
- 36.3
- Under 18
- 21%
- 65 and older
- 17.3%
- Households
- 79,084
- Foreign-born
- 8.3%
- Veterans
- 5.9%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Chattanooga ›
Education in Chattanooga
36% of adults 25 and older in Chattanooga have a bachelor's degree or higher (Tennessee: 31.1%), and 13.5% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Chattanooga
- Unemployment rate
- 5.4%State: 4.7%
- Average commute
- 19 minState: 26 min
- Work from home
- 13.6%
- Drive alone
- 73.6%
- Public transit
- 0.9%
- Walk to work
- 1.9%
- Homes with broadband
- 90.4%
Chattanooga vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | 185,783 | $64,523 | $283,200 | $1,256 |
| Ridgeside | 879 | $191,167 | $481,600 | — |
| Red Bank | 12,010 | $63,983 | $269,400 | $1,283 |
| East Ridge | 22,070 | $62,247 | $211,100 | $1,147 |
| Lakeview | 4,723 | $61,405 | $171,700 | $1,014 |
| Rossville | 3,978 | $59,191 | $133,000 | $1,033 |
| Harrison | 8,011 | $89,395 | $307,400 | $1,216 |
| Signal Mountain | 8,860 | $141,008 | $544,300 | $1,852 |
| Walden | 1,845 | $124,493 | $679,900 | $1,537 |
More for people moving to Chattanooga
Chattanooga ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Chattanooga: FAQ
What is the median household income in Chattanooga, TN?
The median household income in Chattanooga is $64,523, 7% lower than the Tennessee median of $69,595 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Chattanooga?
The median home value in Chattanooga is $283,200, compared with $286,700 in Tennessee.
How much is rent in Chattanooga?
The median gross rent in Chattanooga is $1,256 per month, about 28.6% of household income.
Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to live?
Pluses: home values about the same as the state median; an average commute of 19 minutes. Minuses: median household income 7% lower than the Tennessee median; unemployment of 5.4%; a poverty rate of 19.1%.
What is the median age in Chattanooga?
The median age in Chattanooga is 36.3 years (Tennessee: 38.9).
How long is the commute in Chattanooga?
The average commute to work in Chattanooga is 19 minutes; 13.6% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Chattanooga?
The unemployment rate in Chattanooga is 5.4% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Chattanooga?
36% of adults in Chattanooga have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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