Chattanooga, TN

Census Place

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2021 Population

180,353

0.561% 1-year decline

US Senator

Marsha Blackburn

Republican Party

US Senator

Bill Hagerty

Republican Party

2021 Median Age

36.7

0% 1-year change

2021 Poverty Rate

17.6%

0.000906% 1-year increase

2021 Median Household Income

$50,437

6.94% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$189,500

8.35% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

88,182

0.328% 1-year decline

About

In 2021, Chattanooga, TN had a population of 180k people with a median age of 36.7 and a median household income of $50,437. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Chattanooga, TN declined from 181,370 to 180,353, a −0.561% decrease and its median household income grew from $47,165 to $50,437, a 6.94% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Chattanooga, TN are White (Non-Hispanic) (56.3%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (30.3%), White (Hispanic) (3.25%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.12%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (2.68%).

None of the households in Chattanooga, TN 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.

95.1% of the residents in Chattanooga, TN are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Chattanooga, TN are The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (2,624 degrees awarded in 2021), Chattanooga State Community College (1,484 degrees), and Academy of Allied Health Careers (200 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Chattanooga, TN was $189,500, and the homeownership rate was 51.6%.

Most people in Chattanooga, TN drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 18.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Chattanooga, TN was 2 cars per household.

Photo by Bryce Edwards

United States Tennessee Hamilton County, TN Chattanooga, TN-GA Chattanooga City (South & Central) PUMA, TN Chattanooga (North) & Red Bank Cities PUMA, TN Soddy-Daisy City PUMA, TN

Population & Diversity

Chattanooga, TN is home to a population of 180k people, from which 95.1% are citizens. As of 2021, 7.38% of Chattanooga, TN residents were born outside of the country (13.3k people).

In 2021, there were 1.86 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (102k people) in Chattanooga, TN than any other race or ethnicity. There were 54.6k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 5.85k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

95.1%

2021 Citizenship

95.7%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 95.1% of Chattanooga, TN residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Chattanooga, TN was 95.7%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Chattanooga, TN

White (Non-Hispanic)
102k ± 1.52k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
54.6k ± 1.59k
White (Hispanic)
5.85k ± 814

7.29%

Hispanic Population

13.1k people

7.29% of the people in Chattanooga, TN are hispanic (13.1k people).

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

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
86,142 ± 7,160 people
India
24,764 ± 3,857 people
Guatemala
18,995 ± 3,379 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Tennessee was Mexico, the natal country of 86,142 Tennessee residents, followed by India with 24,764 and Guatemala with 18,995.

Foreign-Born Population

7.38%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

13.3k people

6.75%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

12.2k people

As of 2021, 7.38% of Chattanooga, TN residents (13.3k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Chattanooga, TN was 6.75%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
3,321 ± 453
Gulf War (2001-)
1,483 ± 357
Gulf War (1990s)
1,355 ± 321

Chattanooga, TN has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.24 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Chattanooga, TN employs 88.2k people. The largest industries in Chattanooga, TN are Health Care & Social Assistance (13,447 people), Manufacturing (11,260 people), and Retail Trade (9,256 people), and the highest paying industries are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($223,750), Utilities ($98,652), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($59,832).

Males in Tennessee have an average income that is 1.37 times higher than the average income of females, which is $49,162. The income inequality in Tennessee (measured using the Gini index) is 0.463, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

88.2k

2021 Value

± 2,508

−0.328%

1 Year decline

± 4.11%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Chattanooga, TN declined at a rate of −0.328%, from 88.5k employees to 88.2k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Chattanooga, TN, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (9,242 people), Sales & Related Occupations (9,114 people), and Management Occupations (8,059 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Chattanooga, TN.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Tennessee (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

88.2k

2021 Value

± 2,508

−0.328%

1 Year decline

± 4.11%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Chattanooga, TN declined at a rate of −0.328%, from 88.5k employees to 88.2k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Chattanooga, TN, are Health Care & Social Assistance (13,447 people), Manufacturing (11,260 people), and Retail Trade (9,256 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Chattanooga, TN, though some of these residents may live in Chattanooga, TN and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$40,944

Median earning men ± $1,634

$32,364

Median earning women ± $1,532

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($63,254), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($50,946), and Wholesale Trade ($50,223).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($47,756), Public Administration ($43,193), and Wholesale Trade ($41,757).

Employment by Industry Sector

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

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Tennessee. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Tennessee.

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

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

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Tennessee product (by dollars) was Electronics with $51.3B, followed by Motorized vehicles ($50.3B) and Pharmaceuticals ($49.5B).

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

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Tennessee.

$471B

2020 Value in Tennessee

$1.05T

Projected 2050 Value in Tennessee

123% growth

In 2020, total outbound Tennessee trade was $471B. This is expected to increase 123% to $1.05T by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Tennessee trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

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

Most Common Trade Partners

Georgia
$34.2B
Texas
$26.7B
Kentucky
$21B

In 2020, the top outbound Tennessee domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Georgia with $34.2B, followed by Texas with $26.7B and Kentucky and $21B.

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

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Tennessee went to Donald J. Trump with 60.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (37.5%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.978%).

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

Tennessee is currently represented by 9 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. Showing the available data for Tennessee.

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (60.7%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (37.5%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (0.978%)
Independent Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Tennessee went to Donald J. Trump with 60.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (37.5%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.978%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Tennessee for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Tennessee

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

Marsha Blackburn

Senator from Tennessee

Assumed office on January 3, 2019

Bill Hagerty

Senator from Tennessee

Assumed office on January 3, 2021

Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are the senators currently representing Tennessee.

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 over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Tennessee

Tennessee is currently represented by 9 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 have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Chattanooga, TN awarded 4,705 degrees. The student population of Chattanooga, TN in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 7,422 male students and 12,233 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Chattanooga, TN are White (3,569 and 77.2%), followed by Black or African American (494 and 10.7%), Hispanic or Latino (232 and 5.02%), and Two or More Races (134 and 2.9%).

The largest universities in Chattanooga, TN by number of degrees awarded are The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (2,624 and 55.8%), Chattanooga State Community College (1,484 and 31.5%), and Academy of Allied Health Careers (200 and 4.25%).

The most popular majors in Chattanooga, TN are Liberal Arts & Sciences (604 and 12.8%), General Business Administration & Management (502 and 10.7%), and Registered Nursing (260 and 5.53%).

The median tuition cost in Chattanooga, TN for a public four year colleges is $7,992 for in-state students and $24,110 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2021 in Chattanooga, TN, the percentage of applicants admitted was 85.7%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 31.8%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 19,655 (37.8% men and 62.2% 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 2021 there were 19,655 students enrolled in Chattanooga, TN, 37.8% men and 62.2% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 13,906 records, of which 61.3% were women and 38.7% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
353 degrees awarded
Kinesiology & Exercise Science
207 degrees awarded
General Psychology
167 degrees awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Chattanooga, TN was General Business Administration & Management with 353 degrees awarded.

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

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
2,624 degrees awarded
Chattanooga State Community College
1,484 degrees awarded
Academy of Allied Health Careers
200 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga with 2,624 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 1,744 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Chattanooga, TN, which is 0.589 times less than the 2,961 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 3,569 degrees mean that there were 7.22 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 494 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 for-profit, 2-year ($10,665) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,856) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

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.

Measure

In 2021, 0.767% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.729% 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.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were High School or Equivalent (1.73M), Some college (1.19M), and Bachelors Degree (920k).

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 was $189,500 in 2021, which is 0.774 times smaller than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $174,900 to $189,500, a 8.35% increase. The homeownership rate in Chattanooga, TN is 51.6%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Chattanooga, TN have an average commute time of 18.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Chattanooga, TN is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Chattanooga, TN is $50,437. In 2021, the place with the highest median household income in Chattanooga, TN was Census Tract 120 with a value of $152,143, followed by Census Tract 113.25 and Census Tract 7, with respective values of $98,746 and $96,728.

Housing

Property

$189,500

Median Property Value 2021

±$5,503

$39,485

Median Property Taxes

±$1,511

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 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 compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

51.6%

Homeownership

2021

64.4%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 51.6% of the housing units in Chattanooga, TN were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 52.8%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Chattanooga, TN 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)

Census Tract 120
Census Tract 113.25
Census Tract 7

In 2021, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Chattanooga, TN was Census Tract 120 with a value of $152,143, followed by Census Tract 113.25 and Census Tract 7, with respective values of $98,746 and $96,728.

The following map shows all of the places in Chattanooga, TN 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.

$50,437

Median Household Income

± $1,956

76.5k

Number of Households

± 2,325

In 2021, the median household income of the 76.5k households in Chattanooga, TN grew to $50,437 from the previous year's value of $47,165.

The following chart displays the households in Chattanooga, TN 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 < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Chattanooga, TN is from Tennessee.

0.463

2021 Wage GINI in Tennessee

0.463

2020 Wage GINI in Tennessee

In 2021, the income inequality in Tennessee was 0.463 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.126% growth from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less 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.

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

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (76.8%)
Carpooled (10.1%)
Worked At Home (7.97%)

In 2021, 76.8% of workers in Chattanooga, TN drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (10.1%) and those who worked at home (7.97%).

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

18.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Chattanooga, TN have a shorter commute time (18.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 1.27% of the workforce in Chattanooga, TN have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Chattanooga, TN 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 distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Chattanooga, TN have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

17.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Chattanooga, TN (30.4k out of 173k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Females 55 - 64.

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

88.3% of the population of Chattanooga, TN has health coverage, with 43.5% on employee plans, 18% on Medicaid, 13% on Medicare, 12.4% on non-group plans, and 1.41% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Hamilton County, TN see 908 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.442% increase from the previous year (904 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1286 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 422 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Hamilton County, TN.

908 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Hamilton County, TN

Primary care physicians in Hamilton County, TN see an average of 908 patients per year. This represents a 0.442% increase from the previous year (904 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Hamilton County, TN in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 21.9% under 18 years, 25.9% between 18 and 34 years, 35.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.4% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 45.5% were men and 54.5% were women.

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

Uninsured People

11.7%

Uninsured

43.5%

Employer Coverage

18%

Medicaid

13%

Medicare

12.4%

Non-Group

1.41%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Chattanooga, TN grew by 6.41% from 11% to 11.7%.

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