37343 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
37421
37343
Opportunity
65 · Top 29%
vs65 · Top 30%
Growth
66 · Top 21%
vs66 · Top 21%
Climate
73 · Top 39%
vs73 · Top 39%
Physical resilience
58 · Bottom 49%
vs58 · Bottom 49%
Housing affordability
83 · Top 46%
vs88 · Top 37%
Schools
58 · Top 41%
vs71 · Top 25%
Access
47 · Bottom 3%
vs51 · Bottom 4%
Economic stability
61 · Top 48%
vs65 · Top 41%
Measured values
| Metric | 37421 | 37343 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 52,985 | 45,101 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $82,517 | $82,227 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $47,620 | $46,385 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,671/sq mi | 1,071/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $333,700 | $307,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,405 | $1,358 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.2% | 76.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -1.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.8% | 36.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 7.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 993 | 993 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.3 | 5.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 2.6% | 2.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 55.0" | 55.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 85 mi | 82 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 24.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.8 | 42.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 36.9% | 44.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 32.9% | 33.8% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
37421
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
37343
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 37421 — Chattanooga, TN · 37343 — Chattanooga, TN · How this is calculated: methodology