Property Makler
Advanced analytics for residential real estate investing

Chattanooga, TN-GA housing market

Housing market indicators

Indicator	2022	2023	2024	2025*	2022	2023	2024	YTD
Median Listing Price per Square Feet	$195	$211	$210	$213	14%	8.2%	-0.5%	1.4%
Active Listing Count	1,257	1,519	2,024	2,673	117.5%	20.8%	33.2%	32.1%
Median Days on Market	63	57	69	62	46.5%	-9.5%	21.1%	-10.1%
Share of listings with price increase	0.8%	0.8%	0.6%	0.5%
Share of listings with price decrease	13.3%	16.5%	19.8%	22.1%

* last available value

Note: 12M MA - 12 months moving average, Permits - New Private Housing Structures Authorized by Building Permits. Source: FRED

The Chattanooga, TN-GA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes six counties: Hamilton and Marion in Tennessee, Sequatchie in Tennessee, and Catoosa, Dade, and Walker in Georgia.
Core city is Chattanooga, TN, with 2025 population of 191,496, serving as the economic and geographic anchor.
2024 MSA population reached 588,050, up from 562,647 in 2020, with projections to 1,093,743 by 2030 (2.2% growth).
Key geographic regions: urban core in Hamilton County (downtown Chattanooga), northern suburbs (Ooltewah, Collegedale), southern areas (East Ridge, Red Bank), rural outskirts (Marion, Sequatchie counties in TN), and northwest Georgia counties (Ringgold in Catoosa, Summerville in Chattooga area).
Density highest in Chattanooga urban core at around 1,500 people per square mile; rural Georgia counties below 200 per square mile.

Area	City/Town	Population	Density	Income	Quality of Schools
Hamilton County	Chattanooga	191,496 (2025)	1,500/sq mi	Median $61,028; per capita $44,949	GreatSchools 3-9/10
Hamilton County	East Ridge	21,979	2,200/sq mi	Median $55,000 (low-moderate)	GreatSchools 4-8/10
Hamilton County	Red Bank	11,899	2,800/sq mi	Median $52,000 (low)	GreatSchools 3-7/10
Catoosa County, GA	Ringgold	14,897	500/sq mi	Median $65,000 (moderate)	GreatSchools 6-9/10
Walker County, GA	Rock Spring	~5,000	300/sq mi	Median $60,000 (moderate)	GreatSchools 5-8/10
Marion County, TN	Jasper	3,612	100/sq mi	Median $45,000 (low)	GreatSchools 4-7/10
Sequatchie County, TN	Dunlap	5,567	150/sq mi	Median $48,000 (low)	GreatSchools 3-6/10
Dade County, GA	Trenton	2,236	80/sq mi	Median $42,000 (low)	GreatSchools 4-7/10

To view all table columns, please open this table on a laptop or desktop screen.

Crime level: High in central Chattanooga (violent crime index 45/100); moderate in suburbs like East Ridge (30/100); low in rural GA counties (15/100).
Property tax: Hamilton County TN 0.74%; Catoosa GA 0.89%; Walker GA 0.92%; Marion TN 0.53%; no local personal income tax beyond state levels.
Comments: Hamilton County dominates with 386,256 residents (66% of MSA); GA counties offer lower costs but commute challenges; schools strongest in Catoosa/Ringgold area.

MSA median household income $68,666 in 2023, up 5% from prior year; Chattanooga city median $61,028 with 17.63% poverty.
Per capita income in Chattanooga $44,949; MSA average family income $115,328 for married households.
Income disparity: High in North Chattanooga suburbs ($100k+ median); low in rural Marion/Sequatchie ($45k median).
Education: 32% bachelor's degree or higher in MSA; Chattanooga 28% with associate or higher; strongest in Hamilton County suburbs (38% bachelor's).
Median age 40.4 MSA-wide; 36.6 in Chattanooga city.
Racial demographics: 76.1% White non-Hispanic, 12.3% Black, 2.88% multiracial; Chattanooga 58% White, 29% Black.

Manufacturing dominates (20% employment): automotive (VW plant), steel, chemicals.
Healthcare and education: Erlanger Health System, UTC employ 15% workforce.
Logistics and distribution: inland port, I-75 corridor supports 12% jobs.
Tourism and recreation: outdoor industry (rock climbing, river activities) growing to 8%.
Professional services and tech: emerging with 10% share, boosted by gigafactory proximity.
Retail and construction steady at 15% combined.

Zoning openness moderate: Hamilton County allows mixed-use in urban core, but suburbs restrictive on density.
Regulatory strictness: TN streamlined permitting (6 months average); GA counties slower with environmental reviews in rural zones.
Construction workforce cost low: labor rates $25-35/hour, 20% below national average due to local trade schools.
New supply: 4,000 units permitted 2024, focused on multifamily in Chattanooga; single-family lags in suburbs.
Land availability high in GA counties, low in urban Hamilton.
Material costs stable, impacted minimally by supply chain issues.

Net migration positive: +5,000 annually, driven by affordability vs. Atlanta/Nashville.
Growing industries: manufacturing (EV-related from VW expansion +10% jobs); healthcare (+7% employment); logistics (+12% from e-commerce).
Declining: traditional retail (-3% jobs); some legacy manufacturing (-2%).
Inbound from high-cost metros: 40% of buyers from out-of-state, targeting suburbs.
Remote work influx boosts Northshore/Ooltewah demand.
Population growth 1-2% yearly fuels family housing needs.

Area	Appreciation Potential	Risk
North Chattanooga / Ooltewah	High	Low
Downtown Chattanooga	High	Medium
East Ridge / GA Suburbs (Ringgold)	Medium-High	Low
Rural TN (Marion, Sequatchie)	Low	High
Walker/Dade GA	Medium	Medium

To view all table columns, please open this table on a laptop or desktop screen.

North Chattanooga / Ooltewah: High potential from tech migration, schools; drivers low crime, new builds.
Downtown: High from urban revival, tourism; risk crime, flood.
East Ridge / Ringgold: Steady growth via commutes to VW; low risk, good value.
Rural TN: Low appreciation, high risk stagnation; aging population.
Walker/Dade: Balanced by manufacturing; infrastructure needs cap upside.