Chattanooga, TN vs Irvine, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Chattanooga
69
#1258 nationally
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $52,891). Chattanooga leads in cost of living index (88 vs 178). Irvine leads in school rating (9.5 vs 5.4).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69 (#1258) | 67.2 (#1452) |
| Population | 184,119 | 307,670 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $322,295 | $1,517,431 |
| Median Household Income | $52,891 | $116,519 |
| Average Commute | 21.8 min | 25.8 min |
| Walk Score | 32 | 44 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | Very Low |
| School Rating | 5.4 | 9.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 88 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+13.1 | D+2.6 |
D+
69 Score
Chattanooga, TN
Scenic City with gigabit fiber
Median Home
$322,295
Population
184,119
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southeast
View Chattanooga, TN →
D+
67.2 Score
Irvine, CA
Master-planned perfection in Southern California
Median Home
$1,517,431
Population
307,670
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A+
Pacific
View Irvine, CA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Chattanooga for: