Chattanooga vs Norfolk
The short version
- Chattanooga is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 7% lower than in the Norfolk area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $283,200 in Chattanooga and $289,900 in Norfolk.
- Chattanooga has more scorching days: 58 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 36.
- Chattanooga is growing faster: +6.9% since 2020 vs -3%.
- Commutes are shorter in Chattanooga (19 vs 23 minutes each way).
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages; Virginia's top rate is 5.75%.
Side by side
| Chattanooga, TN | Norfolk, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 194,144 | 231,013 |
| Growth since 2020 | +6.9% | -3% |
| People per square mile | 1,364 | 4,336 |
| Median age | 36.3 | 32.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36% | 34% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $64,523 | $66,109 |
| Median home value | $283,200 | $289,900 |
| Home value to income | 4.4× | 4.4× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,256 | $1,321 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 91.5 | 97.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 76.6 | 99.8 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $68,600 | $73,500 |
| Homeowners | 52% | 46% |
| Top state income tax | None | 5.75% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.61% | 5.77% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 18.5 | 23.0 |
| Work from home | 14% | 10% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 3% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.4% | 5.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.1% | 16.5% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 51° / 32° | 51° / 34° |
| July high / low | 91° / 71° | 89° / 73° |
| Precipitation per year | 55 in | 49 in |
| Snowfall per year | 4 in | 6 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 58 | 36 |
| Nights below freezing | 56 | 41 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 5 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 93.3 | 81.2 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 51% | 78% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.9% | +3.6% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +51.5% | +43.4% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Chattanooga: May and September to October. Norfolk: April to June and October to November.
Full monthly tables: Chattanooga weather by month and Norfolk weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $68,600 in Chattanooga and $73,500 in Norfolk. Moving from Chattanooga to Norfolk, you would need about $80,300 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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