Chattanooga receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Chattanooga
Corpus Christi
Opportunity
62 · Top 38%
vs50 · Bottom 36%
Growth
66 · Top 22%
vs53 · Top 45%
Climate
73 · Top 41%
vs76 · Top 30%
Physical resilience
58 · Top 49%
vs42 · Bottom 35%
Housing affordability
72 · Bottom 45%
vs87 · Top 31%
Access
48 · Bottom 3%
vs47 · Bottom 3%
Economic stability
45 · Bottom 21%
vs41 · Bottom 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Chattanooga | Corpus Christi | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 185,783 | 317,419 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $64,523 | $67,394 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,600 | $34,788 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,305/sq mi | 1,907/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $283,200 | $210,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,256 | $1,292 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 52.4% | 57.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.0% | 24.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.1% | 17.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 993 | 1,189 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.3 | 3.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 2.6% | -11.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 52°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 55.0" | 35.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 87 mi | 78 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 22.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.3 | 36.9 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Chattanooga
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Corpus Christi
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Chattanooga
60
Your Score
62
Area Score
Corpus Christi
57
Your Score
57
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Chattanooga, TN · Corpus Christi, TX · How this is calculated: methodology