City · Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, city, in Hamilton County, Tennessee. Chattanooga had 194,144 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 181,099 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 185,783 (±121). GEOID 4714000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
194,144
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 181,099 · ACS 2020-2024: 185,783 ±121
Median household income
$64,523
±$1,964 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$283,200
±$8,317 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$1,256
±$33 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
Where is Chattanooga and what county is it in?
Chattanooga is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee. It covers 142.4 square miles of land, 1,272 residents per square mile in 2020.
Chattanooga is in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Chattanooga, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 194,144 people lived in Chattanooga on July 1, 2025, up 6.9% since 2020, faster than Tennessee (+5.8%). The 2020 Census counted 181,099 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 185,783 (±121).
| Measure | Chattanooga | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 185,783 ±121 | 376,192 | +6,093 |
| Households | 79,084 ±1,111 | 154,181 | +3,144 |
| Average household size | 2.26 ±0.03 | 2.38 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 87,970 ±917 | 168,013 | +1,786 |
Chattanooga's population since 2000
From 155,554 in 2000 to 194,144 in 2025: up 24.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Chattanooga as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Chattanooga?
The median resident of Chattanooga is 36.3 years old; 21.0% are under 18 and 17.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 55.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 27.6%. 8.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Chattanooga | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 ±0.6 | 39.5 | −1.2 |
| Under 18 years | 21.0% ±0.5 pts | 21.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.3% ±0.5 pts | 18.4% | – |
| Male | 48.4% ±0.6 pts | 48.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10.0% ±0.7 pts | 8.0% | +3.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 55.5% ±1.0 pts | 68.3% | −1.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 27.6% ±0.9 pts | 16.9% | −3.5 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.3% ±0.3 pts | 2.1% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.3% ±0.6 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.3% ±0.6 pts | 6.6% | +1.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 12.0% ±1.0 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.9% ±0.5 pts | 6.7% | – |
| With a disability | 14.1% ±0.8 pts | 13.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.2% ±0.9 pts | 9.7% | +1.8 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.0% ±0.7 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 36.0% ±1.1 pts | 37.5% | +6.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 13.5% ±0.8 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 81.1% ±1.3 pts | 84.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.0% ±0.6 pts | 4.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Chattanooga earn?
Half of Chattanooga's 79,084 households earn less than $64,523 a year (±$1,964), against $76,183 in Hamilton County and $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 the median was $56,030 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $8,493 after inflation. 19.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Chattanooga | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,523 ±$1,964 | $76,183 | +$8,493 |
| Mean household income | $95,469 ±$3,063 | $108,057 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,600 ±$1,362 | $45,341 | +$3,951 |
| People below the poverty line | 19.1% ±1.3 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 31.3% ±3.3 pts | 20.2% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.9% ±1.2 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.0% ±0.7 pts | 95.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.4% ±0.9 pts | 91.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Chattanooga?
Owners occupy 52.4% of Chattanooga's occupied homes and renters 47.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $283,200 by its owner (±$8,317). The median renter pays $1,256 a month including utilities, and 38.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Chattanooga | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $283,200 ±$8,317 | $312,800 | +$77,059 |
| Median gross rent | $1,256 ±$33 | $1,253 | +$199 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.6% ±2.5 pts | 38.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,564 ±$57 | $1,608 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 52.4% ±1.4 pts | 63.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 47.6% ±1.4 pts | 36.1% | – |
| Housing units | 87,970 ±917 | 168,013 | +1,786 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.8% ±0.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.7% ±1.0 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 57.6% ±1.3 pts | 68.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.5% ±0.3 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.3% ±0.4 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 11.7% ±1.0 pts | 12.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.6% ±1.0 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.6% ±1.1 pts | 5.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Chattanooga building?
Builders took permits for 893 new housing units in Chattanooga in 2025 (793 in single-family houses), 4.6 per 1,000 residents against 5.9 across Tennessee.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Chattanooga work and get to work?
73.6% of Chattanooga's workers drive alone and 13.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.4%.
| Measure | Chattanooga | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.6% ±0.9 pts | 64.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% ±0.7 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 73.6% ±1.4 pts | 74.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.8% ±0.9 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.9% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 1.9% ±0.4 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.6% ±1.1 pts | 14.3% | +8.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 18.5 min ±0.5 | 22.1 min | −0.9 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Chattanooga?
49 census tracts lie mostly in Chattanooga, and 14 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $20,000 (Tract 16) to $157,500 (Tract 6).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 113.21Hamilton County | 7,567 | $86,419 |
| Tract 104.32Hamilton County | 7,615 | $90,074 |
| Tract 33Hamilton County | 7,334 | $59,651 |
| Tract 104.31Hamilton County | 7,217 | $76,295 |
| Tract 124Hamilton County | 5,954 | $71,389 |
| Tract 114.02Hamilton County | 5,938 | $70,787 |
| Tract 113.26Hamilton County | 5,923 | $86,585 |
| Tract 104.33Hamilton County | 5,590 | $64,236 |
| Tract 114.46Hamilton County | 5,197 | $81,821 |
| Tract 123Hamilton County | 5,157 | $55,833 |
| Tract 105.01Hamilton County | 5,920 | $80,771 |
| Tract 34Hamilton County | 4,869 | $45,093 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Chattanooga) · Census block assignment files
How does Chattanooga compare with other places in Tennessee?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Chattanooga is the 135th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 4th-most populous of 345 in Tennessee.
Chattanooga ranks 115th of 287 places in Tennessee with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 4th | 345 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 66th | 230 |
| Residents per square mile | 35th | 289 |
| Median household income | 115th | 287 |
| Per capita income | 57th | 289 |
| Median home value | 87th | 285 |
| Median gross rent | 50th | 265 |
| Poverty rate | 91st | 239 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46th | 276 |
| Median age | 221st | 289 |
| Owner-occupied share | 244th | 289 |
| Work from home | 63rd | 167 |
| Travel time to work | 271st | 288 |
Chattanooga's figures with every place in Tennessee (CSV)
Every place in Tennessee, sortable · Compare Chattanooga with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Chattanooga?
3 of the 57 figures for Chattanooga on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Chattanooga are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Chattanooga.