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METRO AREA

Chattanooga Metro

Chattanooga, TN-GA · 6 counties · 594,530 residents (2025 est.) · 2,088.793 sq mi
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The short version

Chattanooga has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $72,439. Population has grown 21% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $278,889. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.9
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 77%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
575,812
+21%since 2000
from 476,531 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
276 / sq mi
+21%since 2000
from 228 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.4
+9%since 2000
from 37.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:594,530 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
419K462K505K547K590K1990201020202024Chattanooga
2024576K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$72,439
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,469 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,227
+108%since 2000
from $19,861 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.1%
+22.6 ptssince 2009
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.470
+2%since 2010
from 0.461 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services7.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance7.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration6.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical5.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$278,889
+77%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,582 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,140
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $486 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 70.1% in 2000
31.7% rent
Vacancy rate
9.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.2%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 22.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 40.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.9
+67%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
88
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chattanooga on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.4%(392,741)
Black13.8%(65,970)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(7,099)
Asian1%(4,568)
Other0%
Diversity Score35.4%(168,496)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic75.5%(435,017)
Black11.7%(67,634)
Hispanic / Latino6.4%(37,036)
Asian1.6%(9,495)
Other4.6%(26,630)
Diversity Score51.1%(294,311)
Segregation Score42.6%(245,132)
Diversity Score
51
+45%since 2000
from 35 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
43
−7%since 2020
from 46 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.9%
+12.5 ptssince 2000
from 19.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.0%
+13.3 ptssince 2000
from 76.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.9%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.2 min
+60%since 2000
from 15.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.0%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 82.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.3%
+10.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.5%
−5.3 ptssince 2011
from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 63.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.0%
−22.9 ptssince 2009
from 63.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
5.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−40.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2012
from 16.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.2%
−75.6 ptssince 2013
from 85.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.1%
+16.1 ptssince 2017
from 74.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.6%
−2.3 ptssince 2016
from 95.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.6%
+1.7 ptssince 2016
from 2.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

ChattanoogaCENTRAL194,144
What's inside

6 component counties

Hamilton CountyCENTRAL390,833Walker CountyCENTRAL70,250Catoosa CountyCENTRAL69,628Marion County29,804Sequatchie County17,861Dade County16,154
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Chattanooga

Port St. Lucie
Pop 568,721
Augusta
Pop 641,231
Lexington
Pop 535,174
Wichita
Pop 663,809
Places similar to Chattanooga
Head to head

Compare Chattanooga side by side

CHATTANOOGA VS
Port St. Lucie
Income$75,021+4%
Home value$373,643+34%
Population568,721−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHATTANOOGA VS
Augusta
Income$70,929−2%
Home value$222,083−20%
Population641,231+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHATTANOOGA VS
Lexington
Income$71,865−1%
Home value$281,872+1%
Population535,174−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHATTANOOGA VS
Wichita
Income$70,720−2%
Home value$201,271−28%
Population663,809+12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Chattanooga, TN-GA?

Chattanooga, TN-GA has about 575,812 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chattanooga, TN-GA?

The typical household in Chattanooga, TN-GA earns about $72,439 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chattanooga, TN-GA expensive?

In Chattanooga, TN-GA, the median home is worth about $278,889, and the typical rent is about $1,140 a month.

How educated are people in Chattanooga, TN-GA?

About 31.9% of adults age 25 and over in Chattanooga, TN-GA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chattanooga, TN-GA?

About 13.0% of people in Chattanooga, TN-GA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chattanooga, TN-GA grown since 1990?

Yes, Chattanooga, TN-GA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 142,602 residents, a change of about 33 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

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