Chattanooga, TN-GA

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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2021 Population

559,860

0.213% 1-year decline

2021 Median Age

40.4

0% 1-year change

2021 Poverty Rate

12.7%

1.31% 1-year decrease

2021 Median Household Income

$58,277

7.08% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$181,300

6.9% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

266,945

0.576% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Chattanooga, TN-GA had a population of 560k people with a median age of 40.4 and a median household income of $58,277. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Chattanooga, TN-GA declined from 561,055 to 559,860, a −0.213% decrease and its median household income grew from $54,425 to $58,277, a 7.08% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Chattanooga, TN-GA are White (Non-Hispanic) (77.5%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (12.8%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.75%), White (Hispanic) (2.23%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.61%).

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.

97.5% of the residents in Chattanooga, TN-GA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Chattanooga, TN-GA are The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (2,624 degrees awarded in 2021), Chattanooga State Community College (1,484 degrees), and Southern Adventist University (221661) (739 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Chattanooga, TN-GA was $181,300, and the homeownership rate was 67.1%.

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

United States Georgia Tennessee

Population & Diversity

Chattanooga, TN-GA is home to a population of 560k people, from which 97.5% are citizens. As of 2021, 4.31% of Chattanooga, TN-GA residents were born outside of the country (24.1k people).

In 2021, there were 6.03 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (434k people) in Chattanooga, TN-GA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 71.9k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 15.4k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.5%

2021 Citizenship

97.7%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 97.5% of Chattanooga, TN-GA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Chattanooga, TN-GA was 97.7%, 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)
434k ± 659
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
71.9k ± 1.18k
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
15.4k ± 1.32k

4.88%

Hispanic Population

27.3k people

4.88% of the people in Chattanooga, TN-GA are hispanic (27.3k 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
312,541 ± 18,717 people
India
125,633 ± 11,617 people
Guatemala
59,183 ± 8,292 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Tennessee and Georgia was Mexico, the natal country of 312,541 Tennessee and Georgia residents, followed by India with 125,633 and Guatemala with 59,183.

Foreign-Born Population

4.31%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

24.1k people

4.09%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

23k people

As of 2021, 4.31% of Chattanooga, TN-GA residents (24.1k 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-GA was 4.09%, 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
12,645 ± 840
Gulf War (2001-)
5,556 ± 641
Gulf War (1990s)
4,401 ± 575

Chattanooga, TN-GA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.28 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Chattanooga, TN-GA employs 267k people. The largest industries in Chattanooga, TN-GA are Manufacturing (38,248 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (37,394 people), and Retail Trade (29,490 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($92,246), Management of Companies & Enterprises ($62,826), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($60,065).

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

267k

2021 Value

± 4,387

0.576%

1 Year growth

± 2.32%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Chattanooga, TN-GA grew at a rate of 0.576%, from 265k employees to 267k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Chattanooga, TN-GA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (30,637 people), Sales & Related Occupations (27,842 people), and Management Occupations (25,970 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

267k

2021 Value

± 4,387

0.576%

1 Year growth

± 2.32%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Chattanooga, TN-GA grew at a rate of 0.576%, from 265k employees to 267k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Chattanooga, TN-GA, are Manufacturing (38,248 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (37,394 people), and Retail Trade (29,490 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

$43,773

Median earning men ± $841

$32,530

Median earning women ± $614

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($70,447), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($55,182), and Manufacturing ($51,258).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($53,796), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($47,766), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($40,427).

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 Motorized vehicles with $124B, followed by Mixed freight ($117B) and Electronics ($101B).

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.

$625B

2020 Value in Georgia

$1.3T

Projected 2050 Value in Georgia

109% growth

$471B

2020 Value in Tennessee

$1.05T

Projected 2050 Value in Tennessee

123% growth

In 2020, total outbound Georgia trade was $625B. This is expected to increase 109% to $1.3T by 2050.

Comparatively, total outbound Tennessee trade was $471B. This is expected to increase 123% 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
$77.1B
Texas
$48.1B
Alabama
$44.3B

In 2020, the top outbound Georgia and Tennessee domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Florida with $77.1B, followed by Texas with $48.1B and Alabama and $44.3B.

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

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Tennessee and Georgia went to Donald J. Trump with 53.6% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (44.9%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.14%).

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 Tennessee and Georgia.

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (53.6%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (44.9%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.14%)
Independent and Libertarian Party

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

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 2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia|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 2021, universities in Chattanooga, TN-GA awarded 5,686 degrees. The student population of Chattanooga, TN-GA in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 8,988 male students and 14,300 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Chattanooga, TN-GA are White (4,134 and 74.4%), followed by Black or African American (576 and 10.4%), Hispanic or Latino (390 and 7.01%), and Two or More Races (184 and 3.31%).

The largest universities in Chattanooga, TN-GA by number of degrees awarded are The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (2,624 and 46.1%), Chattanooga State Community College (1,484 and 26.1%), and Southern Adventist University (221661) (739 and 13%).

The most popular majors in Chattanooga, TN-GA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (611 and 10.7%), General Business Administration & Management (527 and 9.27%), and Registered Nursing (435 and 7.65%).

The median tuition costs in Chattanooga, TN-GA are $29,510 for private four year colleges, and $7,992 and $24,110 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2021 in Chattanooga, TN-GA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 83.8%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 33.7%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 23,288 (38.6% men and 61.4% 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 23,288 students enrolled in Chattanooga, TN-GA, 38.6% men and 61.4% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 15,840 records, of which 60.7% were women and 39.3% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
373 degree-majors awarded
Kinesiology & Exercise Science
228 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
209 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Chattanooga, TN-GA was General Business Administration & Management with 373 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
2,624 degrees awarded
Chattanooga State Community College
1,484 degrees awarded
Southern Adventist University (221661)
739 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, 2,100 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Chattanooga, TN-GA, which is 0.586 times less than the 3,586 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 4,134 degrees mean that there were 7.18 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 576 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 ($29,510) 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 and Georgia.

Measure

In 2021, 0.917% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.861% 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 2021 were High School or Equivalent (4.02M), Some college (2.97M), and Bachelors Degree (2.44M).

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 $181,300 in 2021, which is 0.74 times smaller than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $169,600 to $181,300, a 6.9% increase. The homeownership rate in Chattanooga, TN-GA is 67.1%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

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 $58,277. In 2021, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Chattanooga, TN-GA was Forsyth County, GA with a value of $120,999, followed by Williamson County, TN and Oconee County, GA, with respective values of $116,492 and $106,165.

Housing

Property

$181,300

Median Property Value 2021

±$2,957

$149,183

Median Property Taxes

±$3,029

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

67.1%

Homeownership

2021

67.6%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 67.1% of the housing units in Chattanooga, TN-GA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 67.4%.

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 2021, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Chattanooga, TN-GA was Forsyth County, GA with a value of $120,999, followed by Williamson County, TN and Oconee County, GA, with respective values of $116,492 and $106,165.

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.

$58,277

Median Household Income

± $1,241

222k

Number of Households

± 3,878

In 2021, the median household income of the 222k households in Chattanooga, TN-GA grew to $58,277 from the previous year's value of $54,425.

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

2021 Wage GINI in Tennessee

0.463

2020 Wage GINI in Tennessee

0.475

2021 Wage GINI in Georgia

0.476

2020 Wage GINI in Georgia

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.

In the same year, the income inequality in Georgia was 0.475 and income inequality had a 0.141% decline from 2020 to 2021, 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 2021

Drove Alone (79.5%)
Carpooled (8.92%)
Worked At Home (8.46%)

In 2021, 79.5% of workers in Chattanooga, TN-GA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (8.92%) and those who worked at home (8.46%).

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 (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 1.7% 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 (69.1k out of 545k 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 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

89.4% of the population of Chattanooga, TN-GA has health coverage, with 47.6% on employee plans, 14.2% on Medicaid, 14.1% on Medicare, 12.3% on non-group plans, and 1.25% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Tennessee see 1401 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.358% increase from the previous year (1396 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1794 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 594 patients per year.

Similarly, primary care physicians in Georgia see 1492 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.06% decrease from the previous year (1508 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1921 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 637 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

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

1,401 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Tennessee

1,492 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Georgia

Primary care physicians in Tennessee see an average of 1,401 patients per year. This represents a 0.358% increase from the previous year (1,396 patients).

Primary care physicians in Georgia see an average of 1,492 patients per year. This represents a 1.06% decrease from the previous year (1,508 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 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 22.7% under 18 years, 20.7% 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, 47.6% were men and 52.4% were women.

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

Uninsured People

10.6%

Uninsured

47.6%

Employer Coverage

14.2%

Medicaid

14.1%

Medicare

12.3%

Non-Group

1.25%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Chattanooga, TN-GA grew by 4.76% from 10.1% to 10.6%.

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.