Chattanooga, TN-GA

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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2020 Population

561,055

0.871% 1-year growth

2018 Median Age

40.2

0.249% 1-year increase

2020 Poverty Rate

12.9%

2.84% 1-year decrease

2020 Median Household Income

$54,425

2.45% 1-year growth

2020 Median Property Value

$169,600

3.99% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

265,416

1.92% 1-year growth

About

In 2020, Chattanooga, TN-GA had a population of 561k people with a median age of 40.2 and a median household income of $54,425. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Chattanooga, TN-GA grew from 556,209 to 561,055, a 0.871% increase and its median household income grew from $53,126 to $54,425, a 2.45% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Chattanooga, TN-GA are White (Non-Hispanic) (77.9%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (12.9%), White (Hispanic) (2.83%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.43%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.66%).

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.

97.7% of the residents in Chattanooga, TN-GA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Chattanooga, TN-GA are The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (221740) (2,580 degrees awarded in 2020), Chattanooga State Community College (1,473 degrees), and Southern Adventist University (221661) (622 degrees).

In 2020, the median property value in Chattanooga, TN-GA was $169,600, and the homeownership rate was 67.4%.

Most people in Chattanooga, TN-GA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 23.6 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

Population & Diversity

Chattanooga, TN-GA is home to a population of 561k people, from which 97.7% are citizens. As of 2020, 4.09% of Chattanooga, TN-GA residents were born outside of the country (23k people).

In 2020, there were 6.02 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (437k people) in Chattanooga, TN-GA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 72.6k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 15.9k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.7%

2020 Citizenship

97.6%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 97.7% of Chattanooga, TN-GA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Chattanooga, TN-GA was 97.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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)
437k ± 522
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
72.6k ± 994
White (Hispanic)
15.9k ± 1.04k

4.67%

Hispanic Population

26.2k people

4.67% of the people in Chattanooga, TN-GA are hispanic (26.2k 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
322,370 ± 18,989 people
India
122,417 ± 11,455 people
Guatemala
53,407 ± 7,804 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Tennessee and Georgia was Mexico, the natal country of 322,370 Tennessee and Georgia residents, followed by India with 122,417 and Guatemala with 53,407.

Foreign-Born Population

4.09%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

23k people

4.04%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

22.5k people

As of 2020, 4.09% of Chattanooga, TN-GA residents (23k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.5%. In 2019, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Chattanooga, TN-GA was 4.04%, 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
13,104 ± 835
Gulf War (2001-)
5,105 ± 599
Gulf War (1990s)
4,650 ± 528

Chattanooga, TN-GA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.57 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Chattanooga, TN-GA employs 265k people. The largest industries in Chattanooga, TN-GA are Manufacturing (37,517 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (37,075 people), and Retail Trade (29,388 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($91,889), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($56,295), and Management of Companies & Enterprises ($55,500).

Males in Tennessee have an average income that is 1.37 times higher than the average income of females, which is $46,310. The income inequality in Tennessee (measured using the Gini index) is 0.463, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

265k

2020 Value

± 4,385

1.92%

1 Year growth

± 2.19%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Chattanooga, TN-GA grew at a rate of 1.92%, from 260k employees to 265k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Chattanooga, TN-GA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (31,258 people), Sales & Related Occupations (27,605 people), and Management Occupations (24,610 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 Tennessee and Georgia.

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

265k

2020 Value

± 4,385

1.92%

1 Year growth

± 2.19%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Chattanooga, TN-GA grew at a rate of 1.92%, from 260k employees to 265k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Chattanooga, TN-GA, are Manufacturing (37,517 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (37,075 people), and Retail Trade (29,388 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

$41,354

Median earning men ± $853

$31,081

Median earning women ± $568

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2020 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($64,888), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($55,522), and Wholesale Trade ($50,196).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2020 are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($55,656), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($44,358), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($42,181).

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

4,958
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
3,027
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing
2,404
Retail Trade

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

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$6.55M
Manufacturing
$4.72M
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$2.98M
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing

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

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Georgia and Tennessee to other states, or from other states to Georgia and Tennessee.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Georgia and Tennessee product (by dollars) was Electronics with $117B, followed by Motorized vehicles ($115B) and Mixed freight ($113B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Tennessee and Georgia products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Georgia and Tennessee.

$626B

2020 Value in Georgia

$1.3T

Projected 2050 Value in Georgia

108% growth

$498B

2020 Value in Tennessee

$1.05T

Projected 2050 Value in Tennessee

111% growth

In 2020, total outbound Georgia trade was $626B. This is expected to increase 108% to $1.3T by 2050.

Comparatively, total outbound Tennessee trade was $498B. This is expected to increase 111% to $1.05T by 2050.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Georgia and Tennessee to other states, or from other states to Georgia and Tennessee.

Most Common Trade Partners

Florida
$75.7B
Texas
$52.2B
California
$42.7B

In 2020, the top outbound Georgia and Tennessee domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Florida with $75.7B, followed by Texas with $52.2B and California and $42.7B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Georgia and Tennessee shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

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.

Senators 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

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 Representatives 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 2020, universities in Chattanooga, TN-GA awarded 5,373 degrees. The student population of Chattanooga, TN-GA in 2020 is skewed towards women, with 9,477 male students and 14,243 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Chattanooga, TN-GA are White (4,025 and 76.4%), followed by Black or African American (452 and 8.58%), Hispanic or Latino (347 and 6.59%), and Two or More Races (218 and 4.14%).

The largest universities in Chattanooga, TN-GA by number of degrees awarded are The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (221740) (2,580 and 48%), Chattanooga State Community College (1,473 and 27.4%), and Southern Adventist University (221661) (622 and 11.6%).

The most popular majors in Chattanooga, TN-GA are General Business Administration & Management (589 and 11%), Liberal Arts & Sciences (542 and 10.1%), and Registered Nursing (482 and 8.97%).

The median tuition costs in Chattanooga, TN-GA are $28,865 for private four year colleges, and $7,836 and $23,954 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2020 in Chattanooga, TN-GA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 82%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 32.9%. The number of students enrolled in 2020 was 23,720 (40% men and 60% 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 2020 there were 23,720 students enrolled in Chattanooga, TN-GA, 40% men and 60% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 16,664 records, of which 59.9% were women and 40.1% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
420 degree-majors awarded
Kinesiology & Exercise Science
215 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
200 degree-majors awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Chattanooga, TN-GA was General Business Administration & Management with 420 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 (221740)
2,580 degrees awarded
Chattanooga State Community College
1,473 degrees awarded
Southern Adventist University (221661)
622 degrees awarded

In 2020, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (221740) with 2,580 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2020, 2,078 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Chattanooga, TN-GA, which is 0.631 times less than the 3,295 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 4,025 degrees mean that there were 8.9 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 452 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 ($28,865) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2020.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,820) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2020.

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 2020, 0.858% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.802% 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 2020 were High School or Equivalent (3.99M), Some college (2.98M), and Bachelors Degree (2.35M).

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 $169,600 in 2020, which is 0.738 times smaller than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $163,100 to $169,600, a 3.99% increase. The homeownership rate in Chattanooga, TN-GA is 67.4%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.4%.

People in Chattanooga, TN-GA have an average commute time of 23.6 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 $54,425. In 2020, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Chattanooga, TN-GA was Forsyth County, GA with a value of $112,834, followed by Williamson County, TN and Oconee County, GA, with respective values of $111,196 and $95,064.

Housing

Property

$169,600

Median Property Value 2020

±$1,663

$150,129

Median Property Taxes

±$2,829

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

67.4%

Homeownership

2020

65.2%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2020

In 2020, 67.4% of the housing units in Chattanooga, TN-GA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 67.1%.

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 2020, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Chattanooga, TN-GA was Forsyth County, GA with a value of $112,834, followed by Williamson County, TN and Oconee County, GA, with respective values of $111,196 and $95,064.

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.

$54,425

Median Household Income

± $946

223k

Number of Households

± 3,936

In 2020, the median household income of the 223k households in Chattanooga, TN-GA grew to $54,425 from the previous year's value of $53,126.

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.

0.463

2020 Wage GINI in Tennessee

0.465

2019 Wage GINI in Tennessee

0.476

2020 Wage GINI in Georgia

0.477

2019 Wage GINI in Georgia

In 2020, the income inequality in Tennessee was 0.463 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.436% decline from 2019 to 2020, 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 0.476 and income inequality had a 0.302% decline from 2019 to 2020, 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 2020

Drove Alone (81%)
Carpooled (9.32%)
Worked At Home (6.37%)

In 2020, 81% of workers in Chattanooga, TN-GA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.32%) and those who worked at home (6.37%).

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

23.6 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Chattanooga, TN-GA have a shorter commute time (23.6 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 1.78% 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

12.9% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Chattanooga, TN-GA (70.2k out of 546k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 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

89.9% of the population of Chattanooga, TN-GA has health coverage, with 48.6% on employee plans, 13.6% on Medicaid, 14% on Medicare, 12.2% on non-group plans, and 1.51% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Tennessee was $7,372 in 2014. This is a 3.74% increase from the previous year ($7,106).

Per capita personal health care spending in Georgia was $6,587 in 2014. This is a 5.41% increase from the previous year ($6,249).

Primary care physicians in Tennessee see 1396 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1396 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1801 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 634 patients per year.

Similarly, primary care physicians in Georgia see 1508 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.31% decrease from the previous year (1528 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1921 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 691 patients per year.

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Tennessee and Georgia. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Tennessee and Georgia, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Patient to Clinician Ratios

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

1,396 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Tennessee

1,508 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Georgia

Primary care physicians in Tennessee see an average of 1,396 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,396 patients).

Primary care physicians in Georgia see an average of 1,508 patients per year. This represents a 1.31% decrease from the previous year (1,528 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.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2020, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 22.6% under 18 years, 20.8% between 18 and 34 years, 38.9% between 35 and 64 years, and 17.7% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.2% were men and 52.8% were women.

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

Uninsured People

10.1%

Uninsured

48.6%

Employer Coverage

13.6%

Medicaid

14%

Medicare

12.2%

Non-Group

1.51%

Military or VA

Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Chattanooga, TN-GA declined by 6.54% from 10.8% to 10.1%.

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.