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Chattanooga, TN

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Chattanooga, TN

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 60
Population182,832
Foreign Born5.1%
Population Density1,284people per mi²
Median Age36.6 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

96/100

4% below national average

A

The Real Cost of Living in Chattanooga, Tennessee

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $18k$35k
Comfortable $50k$74k
Luxury $110k+$171k+
Elite (Top 5%) $158k+$245k+
Affordability Ratio

82%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A-
Hood Index scan area
Premium Lean77%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
19
Negative
25

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

1.2mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

1.1mi

Airport

Xpress Air

5.9mi

Post Office

USPS — Chattanooga, TN

7mi

Critical Amenities

Golf5Nearest 1.4 mi
Camping20Nearest 3.2 mi
Marina9Nearest 0.8 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 116.8 mi
Gun Range1Nearest 6.7 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$61k+5.8%
19% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$489k
25% below US avg
College Educated
35.5%
1% above US avg
WFH
11.9%
17% below US avg
Homeownership
53.1%
19% below US avg
Median Home
$259k
8% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
D
Elevated

Higher crime rates than 74% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
40.3
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−43.9%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−45.0%
Homicide
0.08 / 1k Residents28% above state avg
Robbery
0.73 / 1k Residents76% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
5.56 / 1k Residents36% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−42.8%
Burglary
3.59 / 1k Residents76% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
25.32 / 1k Residents111% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
4.31 / 1k Residents91% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+18Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Chattanooga, Tennessee
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Property Rights
C
FairIJ Grade C
Firearm Rights
A-
GreatFPC Grade A-
Homeschooling
C+
WeakModerate regulation

Energy independence: Importer (25% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
C+
LimitedHerd shares only
Gambling Laws
C+
LimitedTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season241 days325 frost-free
Annual Rainfall64.6"
Elevation686 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
B
Fair729 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,284/sq mi
Fallout Danger
C-
Weak16 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 571 mi · coast 314 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$140.1M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityNew York8.3M people are 729 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital113 miNashville, TN
Nearest Prison17 mi1 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-15T23:51:52.000Z

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