Chattanooga, Tennessee
Scenic City with gigabit fiber
Outside Magazine (2024)
#2 Best Towns
U.S. News (2025)
#36 Best Places to Live
WhereAtHome Score
69
D+out of 100
Overview
Chattanooga has reinvented itself from a polluted industrial city to a model of urban revival. The city offers the nation's fastest municipal fiber internet, a revitalized riverfront, and access to outdoor adventure. No state income tax and affordable housing attract remote workers and young professionals.
Key Highlights
- Fastest municipal fiber internet in U.S.
- Revitalized Tennessee Riverfront
- No state income tax
- Lookout Mountain and outdoor access
- Growing tech and startup scene
- Very affordable cost of living
Key Metrics
2024 Presidential Election
Hamilton County (county-level results)
Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more
Climate
Summer High
90°F
Winter Low
31°F
Annual Rainfall
54"
Sunny Days
208
Amenities & Infrastructure
75+ Parks
Green spaces and recreation
3 Major Hospitals
Healthcare access
3 Universities
Higher education institutions
Public Transit Available
Bus, rail, or metro service
Major Employers
Score Breakdown
6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.
Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)
How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)
Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)
Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)
Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)
Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)
Location
Compare with another city
Start ComparisonLast Updated: 2026-07-01
Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.
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