Chattanooga vs Memphis
Compare Chattanooga, TN and Memphis, TN on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,000/mo in Chattanooga and $1,091/mo in Memphis, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,232/mo and $1,298/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (226 vs 235 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 91°F and 90°F respectively. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Chattanooga screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (45 vs 21/100, higher = lower expected annual loss per resident). If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Chattanooga; if walkable daily life matters more, Chattanooga screens stronger on the walkability proxy (11 vs 10). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Chattanooga leads 76 to 71 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Chattanooga leads 44 to 40 on the daily life screen.
Memphis leads 51 to 32 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Chattanooga is roughly $85,000 in Memphis using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga | Memphis | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,000/mo | $1,091/mo | Chattanooga |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,232/mo | $1,298/mo | Chattanooga |
| Median home value | $220,000 | $208,000 | Memphis |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 26.2 min | Chattanooga |
| Safety score | 27/100 | 33/100 | Memphis |
| School score | 4/10 | 5/10 | Memphis |
| Walkability estimate | 11/100 | 10/100 | Chattanooga |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 183.2 | 166.9 | Chattanooga |
| Mountain distance | 12 mi | 8 mi | Memphis |
| Coast distance | 312 mi | 328 mi | Chattanooga |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 45/100 | 21/100 | Chattanooga |
| Heat wave risk percentile (NRI) | 16th | 94th | Chattanooga |
| Winter weather risk percentile (NRI) | 70th | 28th | Memphis |
| Inland flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 67th | 44th | Memphis |
What stands out
Chattanooga stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Trail access within 20 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 39 miles
Chattanooga tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Memphis stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Trail access within 49 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 127 miles
Memphis tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Chattanooga cheaper than Memphis?
On public benchmarks Chattanooga is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,000/mo in Chattanooga vs $1,091/mo in Memphis; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,232/mo vs $1,298/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Chattanooga or Memphis safer?
Memphis screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 27/100 for Chattanooga and 33/100 for Memphis (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Chattanooga or Memphis?
School screens show 4/10 for Chattanooga vs 5/10 for Memphis, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Chattanooga and Memphis?
Chattanooga: summer highs near 91°F, winter lows near 29°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Memphis: 90°F / 29°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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