Cost of Living in Chattanooga, Tennessee
In Chattanooga, the median household income is $64,523 and the median gross rent is $1,256/mo, with a median home value of $283,200. Source: Census Bureau ACS, 2020-2024 estimates.
- Median household income
- $64,523
- Median gross rent
- $1,256/mo
- Median home value
- $283,200
- Population
- 185,783
How Chattanooga compares to the Tennessee average
| Measure | Chattanooga, TN | Tennessee statewide | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,523 | $69,595 | -7.3% |
| Median gross rent (monthly) | $1,256 | $1,189 | +5.6% |
| Median home value | $283,200 | $286,700 | -1.2% |
Statewide, Tennessee prices average 91.9 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (2024), where the U.S. average is 100.
Housing affordability in Chattanooga
- Salary needed for median rent
- $50,240
- Rent burden at median income
- 23.4%
- Est. affordable home price
- $235,376
So that $1,256/mo is 30% of gross income
Share of the median household income spent on median rent (30%+ = cost-burdened)
At median income, 6.67% 30-yr rate (FRED, 2026-08), 20% down, 28% front-end DTI
The median home value in Chattanooga is $283,200 — +20.3% above what the median household income supports under these assumptions.
Estimates from documented formulas — see methodology. Not financial advice.
Cost of living in other Tennessee cities
About this data
- American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates — data period 2020-2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Regional Price Parities — data period 2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Federal Reserve Economic Data — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 13, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.