Asheville, NC vs Chattanooga, TN
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Nov 2026
Report card
| Category | AshevilleAsheville, NC | ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Exposed | Exposed | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 4.4% unemployment, Asheville, NC, and Chattanooga, TN, show a 1.3-point gap in 2023 Census figures, with Asheville in the 80th percentile and Chattanooga in the 24th. Job growth over the past year also differs sharply: Asheville fell by 1.3% (5th percentile), while Chattanooga rose by 1.6% (67th percentile). The median home value in Asheville is $411,000 (73rd percentile), which is 59% higher than Chattanooga’s $259,200 (45th percentile). The comfortable income needed for a single person is $79,850 in Asheville and $50,358 in Chattanooga, a 59% difference, and for a family of four it is $117,380 versus $74,026, also 59% higher.
Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 12 in Asheville (33rd percentile) and 23 in Chattanooga (67th percentile), making Chattanooga’s rate 86% higher. The median age in Asheville is 40.7 years (69th percentile), 4.1 years older than Chattanooga’s 36.6 (38th percentile). Violent crime per 100,000 people stands at 750 in Asheville (95th percentile) and 705 in Chattanooga (93rd percentile), a 7% difference. Property crime per 100,000 people is 4,377 in Asheville (98th percentile) and 3,329 in Chattanooga (94th percentile), making Asheville 31% higher. The cost of living index is 126 in Asheville (66th percentile) and 96 in Chattanooga (45th percentile), a 31% gap.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Nov 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Chattanooga, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 12666th pctl | 9645th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Asheville, NC 126; Chattanooga, TN 96; Asheville is 31% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $411,00073rd pctl | $259,20045th pctl | Median home value: Asheville, NC $411,000; Chattanooga, TN $259,200; Asheville is 59% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,30357th pctl | $1,15546th pctl | Median rent: Asheville, NC $1,303; Chattanooga, TN $1,155; Asheville is 13% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $67,22142nd pctl | $61,02831st pctl | Median household income: Asheville, NC $67,221; Chattanooga, TN $61,028; Asheville is 10% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $79,85074th pctl | $50,35845th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Asheville, NC $79,850; Chattanooga, TN $50,358; Asheville is 59% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $117,38074th pctl | $74,02645th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Asheville, NC $117,380; Chattanooga, TN $74,026; Asheville is 59% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Affordable | Housing affordability: Asheville, NC C-; Chattanooga, TN B+; Chattanooga is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Chattanooga needs about
$57,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 126 vs 96). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Chattanooga, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.4%80th pctl | 3.1%24th pctl | Unemployment: Asheville, NC 4.4%; Chattanooga, TN 3.1%; Asheville is 1.3 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -1.3%5th pctl | +1.6%67th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Asheville, NC -1.3%; Chattanooga, TN +1.6%; Chattanooga is 2.9 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $41,81861st pctl | $40,04057th pctl | About the same |
| Poverty rate | 14.6%64th pctl | 17.6%75th pctl | Poverty rate: Asheville, NC 14.6%; Chattanooga, TN 17.6%; Chattanooga is 3.0 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 18 min13th pctl | 18.7 min18th pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 18.7%80th pctl | 11.9%57th pctl | Work from home: Asheville, NC 18.7%; Chattanooga, TN 11.9%; Asheville is 6.8 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | Job market: Asheville, NC C+; Chattanooga, TN A-; Chattanooga is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Chattanooga, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 75095th pctl | 70593rd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Asheville, NC 750; Chattanooga, TN 705; Asheville is 7% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 4,37798th pctl | 3,32994th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Asheville, NC 4,377; Chattanooga, TN 3,329; Asheville is 31% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Asheville, NC A-; Chattanooga, TN C+; Asheville is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Chattanooga, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | Tap water: Asheville, NC A-; Chattanooga, TN A+; Chattanooga is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort isn't available for Chattanooga, TN; broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Chattanooga, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | highState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | C-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | D-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
1 row not shown: taxes isn't available for Chattanooga, TN.
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Chattanooga, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 584 mi76th pctl | 726 mi82nd pctl | Nearest large city: Asheville, NC 584 mi; Chattanooga, TN 726 mi; Chattanooga is 24% higher. |
| Target proximity | Great | Weak | Target proximity: Asheville, NC A+; Chattanooga, TN C; Asheville is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 511 mi70th pctl | 568 mi79th pctl | Distance to international border: Asheville, NC 511 mi; Chattanooga, TN 568 mi; Chattanooga is 11% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 239 mi48th pctl | 312 mi56th pctl | Distance to coastline: Asheville, NC 239 mi; Chattanooga, TN 312 mi; Chattanooga is 31% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Chattanooga, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 94,36987th pctl | 182,83294th pctl | Population: Asheville, NC 94,369; Chattanooga, TN 182,832; Chattanooga is 94% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,07562nd pctl | 1,28438th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Asheville, NC 2,075; Chattanooga, TN 1,284; Asheville is 62% higher. |
| Median age | 40.769th pctl | 36.638th pctl | Median age: Asheville, NC 40.7; Chattanooga, TN 36.6; Asheville is 4.1 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.0%82nd pctl | 35.5%58th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Asheville, NC 52.0%; Chattanooga, TN 35.5%; Asheville is 16.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.443rd pctl | 2.325th pctl | Average household size: Asheville, NC 2.4; Chattanooga, TN 2.3; Asheville is 6% larger. |
More about Asheville's residents · Chattanooga's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | AshevilleAsheville, NC | ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+5 | R+18 |
| 2024 presidential | R +10.0 pts | R +36.0 pts |
Full politics data: Asheville · Chattanooga
Moving between Asheville and Chattanooga
- Median rent: $1,303 in Asheville, $1,155 in Chattanooga
- Median home value: $411,000 in Asheville, $259,200 in Chattanooga
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 126 in Asheville, 96 in Chattanooga
- Median household income: $67,221 in Asheville, $61,028 in Chattanooga
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $117,380 in Asheville, $74,026 in Chattanooga
- Unemployment: 4.4% in Asheville, 3.1% in Chattanooga
- Average commute: 18 min in Asheville, 18.7 min in Chattanooga
- Violent crime per 100k: 750 in Asheville, 705 in Chattanooga
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More places like Asheville and Chattanooga
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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