The Town FilesChattanooga, Tennessee
City in Hamilton County · population 181,099 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $283,200
- Household income
- $64,523
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 36.3
Chattanooga is a city of 181,099 people in Hamilton County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $283,200, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better transit than 98% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 97% of Tennessee towns, more vibrant than 97% of Tennessee towns.
How Chattanooga ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chattanooga is worth $283,200, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $64,523, which is more affordable than 23% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,256 a month. 52.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chattanooga | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $283,200 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,256 | $863 |
| Median household income | $64,523 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 52.4% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Chattanooga
| People | Chattanooga | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.0% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.1% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.3% | — |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 88.2% |
Weather in Chattanooga
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 32.4°F. About 55.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.6 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chattanooga since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 12, 2020 about 6.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 124 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 12, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 79 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 17, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4792: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 221,207 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,004 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Chattanooga itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Chattanooga
48 public schools with 25,044 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Howard School | 9-12 | 1,501 | 15.2 |
| East Brainerd Elementary School | PK-5 | 1,172 | 14.8 |
| East Ridge High School | 9-12 | 928 | 14.3 |
| Chattanooga School For The Liberal Arts | K-12 | 923 | 16.2 |
| East Ridge Elementary School | PK-5 | 917 | 14.3 |
| Harrison Elementary School | PK-5 | 884 | 16.1 |
| Red Bank High School | 9-12 | 819 | 16.4 |
| Normal Park Museum Magnet School | PK-8 | 801 | 15.1 |
| Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Upper | 6-12 | 733 | 17.0 |
| Brainerd High School | 9-12 | 732 | 15.9 |
| Clifton Hills Elementary School | PK-5 | 710 | 13.7 |
| Spring Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | 697 | 14.5 |
Towns near Chattanooga
- Red Bank, TN4.2 mi · 11,899 people · home $269,400
- East Ridge, TN4.9 mi · 22,167 people · home $211,100
- Lakeview, GA6.1 mi · 4,777 people · home $171,700
- Rossville, GA6.7 mi · 3,980 people · home $133,000
- Harrison, TN7.0 mi · 7,902 people · home $307,400
- Signal Mountain, TN7.5 mi · 8,852 people · home $544,300
- Middle Valley, TN9.1 mi · 11,695 people · home $319,400
- Fort Oglethorpe, GA9.3 mi · 10,423 people · home $199,700
Chattanooga questions
Is Chattanooga, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chattanooga scores better for retirees than 20% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 6%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Chattanooga?
The median owner-occupied home in Chattanooga is valued at $283,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,523, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,256 a month.
What is the weather like in Chattanooga?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 32.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.0 inches of precipitation a year and 3.6 inches of snow.
Does Chattanooga get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chattanooga since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 12, 2020. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)