Chattanooga, TN-GA

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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2023 Population

569,333

0.862% 1-year growth

2023 Median Age

40.4

0.247% 1-year decrease

2023 Poverty Rate

12.7%

2.33% 1-year increase

2023 Median Household Income

$68,666

5.01% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$246,000

11.8% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

273,551

0.601% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Chattanooga, TN-GA had a population of 569k people with a median age of 40.4 and a median household income of $68,666. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Chattanooga, TN-GA grew from 564,466 to 569,333, a 0.862% increase and its median household income grew from $65,387 to $68,666, a 5.01% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Chattanooga, TN-GA are White (Non-Hispanic) (76.1%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (12.3%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.46%), Two+ (Hispanic) (2.12%), and Other (Hispanic) (1.89%).

None of the households in Chattanooga, TN-GA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.3% of the residents in Chattanooga, TN-GA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Chattanooga, TN-GA are The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (2,666 degrees awarded in 2023), Chattanooga State Community College (1,209 degrees), and Southern Adventist University (607 degrees).

In 2023, the median property value in Chattanooga, TN-GA was $246,000, and the homeownership rate was 68.3%.

Most people in Chattanooga, TN-GA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 23.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Chattanooga, TN-GA was 2 cars per household.

Chattanooga, TN-GA borders Calhoun, GA, Cleveland, TN, Dalton, GA, Dayton, TN, Fort Payne, AL, McMinnville, TN, Rome, GA, Scottsboro, AL, Summerville, GA, and Tullahoma-Manchester, TN.

Photo by Brent Moore

United States Georgia Tennessee

Population & Diversity

Chattanooga, TN-GA is home to a population of 569k people, from which 97.3% are citizens. As of 2023, 4.59% of Chattanooga, TN-GA residents were born outside of the country (26.1k people).

In 2023, there were 6.18 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (433k people) in Chattanooga, TN-GA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 70.1k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 19.7k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.3%

2023 Citizenship

97.5%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 97.3% of Chattanooga, TN-GA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Chattanooga, TN-GA was 97.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Chattanooga, TN-GA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Chattanooga, TN-GA

White (Non-Hispanic)
433k ± 766
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
70.1k ± 1.24k
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
19.7k ± 1.32k

6.07%

Hispanic Population

34.6k people

6.07% of the people in Chattanooga, TN-GA are hispanic (34.6k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Chattanooga, TN-GA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for Tennessee and Georgia.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
306,747 ± 18,546 people
India
127,395 ± 11,643 people
Guatemala
63,559 ± 8,637 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Tennessee and Georgia was Mexico, the natal country of 306,747 Tennessee and Georgia residents, followed by India with 127,395 and Guatemala with 63,559.

Foreign-Born Population

4.59%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

26.1k people

4.33%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

24.5k people

As of 2023, 4.59% of Chattanooga, TN-GA residents (26.1k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Chattanooga, TN-GA was 4.33%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Chattanooga, TN-GA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
12,123 ± 879
Gulf War (2001-)
6,059 ± 773
Gulf War (1990s)
4,845 ± 584

Chattanooga, TN-GA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Chattanooga, TN-GA employs 274k people. The largest industries in Chattanooga, TN-GA are Manufacturing (39,410 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (37,310 people), and Retail Trade (30,183 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($112,222), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($93,214), and Management of Companies & Enterprises ($93,148).

Males in Tennessee have an average income that is 1.36 times higher than the average income of females, which is $53,544. The income inequality in Tennessee (measured using the Gini index) is 0.462, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

274k

2023 Value

± 4,450

0.601%

1 Year growth

± 2.28%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Chattanooga, TN-GA grew at a rate of 0.601%, from 272k employees to 274k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Chattanooga, TN-GA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (30,455 people), Management Occupations (29,482 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (27,799 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Chattanooga, TN-GA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Tennessee and Georgia (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

274k

2023 Value

± 4,450

0.601%

1 Year growth

± 2.28%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Chattanooga, TN-GA grew at a rate of 0.601%, from 272k employees to 274k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Chattanooga, TN-GA, are Manufacturing (39,410 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (37,310 people), and Retail Trade (30,183 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Chattanooga, TN-GA, though some of these residents may live in Chattanooga, TN-GA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$50,412

Median earning men ± $1,100

$37,161

Median earning women ± $762

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($80,765), Information ($66,209), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($63,254).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($65,950), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($55,122), and Public Administration ($47,155).

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

834
Retail Trade
782
Other Services (except Public Administration)
670
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Depending on the option selected, the visualization shows the number of employees or number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$2.23M
Manufacturing
$2.18M
Health Care and Social Assistance
$1.21M
Finance and Insurance

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Georgia and Tennessee went to Donald J. Trump with 55.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (43.4%), followed by Jill Stein (0.327%).

Marsha Blackburn, Bill Hagerty, Jon Ossoff, and Raphael Warnock are the senators currently representing the state of Tennessee and Georgia. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Tennessee and Georgia is currently represented by 23 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Chattanooga, TN-GA. Showing the available data for Georgia and Tennessee.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (55.7%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (43.4%)
Democratic Party
Jill Stein (0.327%)
Green Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Georgia and Tennessee went to Donald J. Trump with 55.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (43.4%), followed by Jill Stein (0.327%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Georgia and Tennessee for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Tennessee and Georgia

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Tennessee and Georgia.

Marsha Blackburn

Senator from Tennessee

Assumed office on January 3, 2019

Bill Hagerty

Senator from Tennessee

Assumed office on January 3, 2021

Jon Ossoff

Senator from Georgia

Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Inauguration delayed as incumbent senator David Perdue's term expired on January 3, 2021, two days prior to the runoff election.

Raphael Warnock

Senator from Georgia

Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Elected to the seat to succeed Kelly Loeffler, who had been appointed to the seat following the resignation of Johnny Isakson.

Marsha Blackburn, Bill Hagerty, Jon Ossoff, and Raphael Warnock are the senators currently representing Tennessee and Georgia.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Tennessee and Georgia over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Tennessee and Georgia

Tennessee and Georgia is currently represented by 23 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Tennessee and Georgia have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2023, universities in Chattanooga, TN-GA awarded 5,571 degrees. The student population of Chattanooga, TN-GA in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 9,842 male students and 16,746 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Chattanooga, TN-GA are White (3,874 and 70.4%), followed by Black or African American (677 and 12.3%), Hispanic or Latino (431 and 7.83%), and Two or More Races (224 and 4.07%).

The largest universities in Chattanooga, TN-GA by number of degrees awarded are The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (2,666 and 47.9%), Chattanooga State Community College (1,209 and 21.7%), and Southern Adventist University (607 and 10.9%).

The most popular majors in Chattanooga, TN-GA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (526 and 9.44%), Registered Nursing (383 and 6.87%), and General Business Administration & Management (365 and 6.55%).

The median tuition costs in Chattanooga, TN-GA are $31,810 for private four year colleges, and $8,232 and $16,296 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Chattanooga, TN-GA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 75%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 35.9%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 26,588 (37% men and 63% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 26,588 students enrolled in Chattanooga, TN-GA, 37% men and 63% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 15,906 records, of which 61.4% were women and 38.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Kinesiology & Exercise Science
223 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
182 degrees awarded
General Psychology
266 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Chattanooga, TN-GA was Kinesiology & Exercise Science with 223 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Chattanooga, TN-GA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
2,666 degrees awarded
Chattanooga State Community College
1,209 degrees awarded
Southern Adventist University
607 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga with 2,666 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 2,052 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Chattanooga, TN-GA, which is 0.583 times less than the 3,519 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 3,874 degrees mean that there were 5.72 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 677 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($31,810) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,912) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Private for-profit, 2-year ($3,840) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Tennessee and Georgia.

Measure

In 2022, 0.975% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.916% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Tennessee and Georgia.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (4.08M), Some college (2.98M), and Bachelors Degree (2.52M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Chattanooga, TN-GA was $246,000 in 2023, which is 0.811 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $220,000 to $246,000, a 11.8% increase. The homeownership rate in Chattanooga, TN-GA is 68.3%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Chattanooga, TN-GA have an average commute time of 23.9 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Chattanooga, TN-GA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Chattanooga, TN-GA is $68,666. In 2023, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Chattanooga, TN-GA was Forsyth County, GA with a value of $138,000, followed by Williamson County, TN and Oconee County, GA, with respective values of $131,202 and $115,925.

Housing

Property

$246,000

Median Property Value 2023

±$3,114

$155,387

Median Property Taxes

±$3,043

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Chattanooga, TN-GA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Chattanooga, TN-GA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

68.3%

Homeownership

2023

67.4%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 68.3% of the housing units in Chattanooga, TN-GA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 68.2%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Chattanooga, TN-GA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

In 2023, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Chattanooga, TN-GA was Forsyth County, GA with a value of $138,000, followed by Williamson County, TN and Oconee County, GA, with respective values of $131,202 and $115,925.

The following map shows all of the counties in Chattanooga, TN-GA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$68,666

Median Household Income

± $1,502

227k

Number of Households

± 3,916

In 2023, the median household income of the 227k households in Chattanooga, TN-GA grew to $68,666 from the previous year's value of $65,387.

The following chart displays the households in Chattanooga, TN-GA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Chattanooga, TN-GA is from Tennessee and Georgia.

0.462

2022 Wage GINI in Tennessee

0.463

2021 Wage GINI in Tennessee

0.474

2022 Wage GINI in Georgia

0.475

2021 Wage GINI in Georgia

In 2022, the income inequality in Tennessee was 0.462 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.289% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Tennessee was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Tennessee in comparison to the national average.

In the same year, the income inequality in Georgia was 0.474 and income inequality had a 0.224% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Georgia was lower than than the national average of 0.478, meaning wages are distributed more evenly in Georgia in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Tennessee and Georgia across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (76.1%)
Worked At Home (12%)
Carpooled (8.88%)

In 2023, 76.1% of workers in Chattanooga, TN-GA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (12%) and those who carpooled to work (8.88%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

23.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Chattanooga, TN-GA have a shorter commute time (23.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 1.76% of the workforce in Chattanooga, TN-GA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Chattanooga, TN-GA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Chattanooga, TN-GA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Chattanooga, TN-GA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

12.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Chattanooga, TN-GA (70.4k out of 556k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Chattanooga, TN-GA is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

89.8% of the population of Chattanooga, TN-GA has health coverage, with 47.6% on employee plans, 14.4% on Medicaid, 14.3% on Medicare, 12.3% on non-group plans, and 1.2% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Tennessee see 1403 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.143% increase from the previous year (1401 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1793 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 560 patients per year.

Similarly, primary care physicians in Georgia see 1491 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.067% decrease from the previous year (1492 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1882 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 596 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Tennessee and Georgia.

1,403 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Tennessee

1,491 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Georgia

Primary care physicians in Tennessee see an average of 1,403 patients per year. This represents a 0.143% increase from the previous year (1,401 patients).

Primary care physicians in Georgia see an average of 1,491 patients per year. This represents a 0.067% decrease from the previous year (1,492 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Tennessee and Georgia in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 22.8% under 18 years, 20.5% between 18 and 34 years, 38.5% between 35 and 64 years, and 18.3% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.8% were men and 52.2% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

10.2%

Uninsured

47.6%

Employer Coverage

14.4%

Medicaid

14.3%

Medicare

12.3%

Non-Group

1.2%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Chattanooga, TN-GA declined by 1.04% from 10.3% to 10.2%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Chattanooga, TN-GA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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