Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Chattanooga, TN Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

185,783

Median Agei

36.3

Race & Ethnicityi

White

55.5%103,085

Black

27.6%51,198

Hispanic/Latino

10%18,563

Two or More

4.3%7,985

Asian

2.3%4,187

Other

0.3%648

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%85

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%32

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.1%5,176

High School Diploma

20.6%26,289

Some College (<1 yr)

6.2%7,875

Some College (1+ yr)

15.2%19,368

Associate's Degree

8%10,221

Bachelor's Degree

22.5%28,693

Master's Degree

9.7%12,362

Professional Degree

1.9%2,440

Doctorate

1.9%2,363

HS or Higher

90%

BA or Higher

36%

Graduate+

13.5%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$283,200

Median Renti

$1,256

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

52.4%41,437

Renter-Occupied

47.6%37,647

Total Units

87,970

Homeownership

52.4%

Vacancy Rate

10.1%

Home Values

Under $50K

3.3%1,380

$50K–$100K

4.6%1,896

$100K–$150K

7.6%3,143

$150K–$200K

12.8%5,284

$200K–$300K

25.5%10,556

$300K–$500K

31%12,838

$500K–$1M

12.3%5,105

$1M+

3%1,235

Rent Distribution

Under $500

3,226

$500–$750

2,851

$750–$1,000

5,433

$1,000–$1,250

6,477

$1,250–$1,500

7,194

$1,500–$2,000

8,136

$2,000+

3,024

Year Built

2020 or later

2.3%2,000

2010–2019

11.7%10,310

2000–2009

13.4%11,807

1990–1999

8.2%7,188

1980–1989

9.9%8,678

1970–1979

12.1%10,650

1960–1969

13.2%11,639

1950–1959

10.8%9,471

1940–1949

5.8%5,122

1939 or earlier

12.6%11,105

Heating Fuel

Electricity

73.1%57,819

Utility Gas

25%19,793

Bottled/LP Gas

0.9%718

No Fuel

0.5%427

Fuel Oil

0.3%204

Wood

0.1%50

Solar

0.1%47

Other

0%26

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$64,523

Mean Household Incomei

$95,469

Per Capita Incomei

$41,600

Poverty Ratei

18.5%

Unemploymenti

5.4%

Labor Forcei

97,307

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

6.2%4,926

$10K–$15K

5.5%4,380

$15K–$20K

3.6%2,847

$20K–$25K

3.4%2,725

$25K–$30K

3.5%2,776

$30K–$35K

3.7%2,905

$35K–$40K

4.4%3,484

$40K–$45K

4.8%3,775

$45K–$50K

4.3%3,437

$50K–$60K

7.1%5,607

$60K–$75K

10.1%8,013

$75K–$100K

11.4%9,017

$100K–$125K

10.2%8,067

$125K–$150K

5.6%4,403

$150K–$200K

6.7%5,335

$200K+

9.3%7,387

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

7,394

Residentsi

12,200

Avg. Tenant Renti

$344/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

36 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing1,641 homes74% occupied$296/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers2,738 homes85% occupied$384/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 82,258 homes86% occupied$329/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC44 homes92% occupied$392/mo rent

811/PRAC60 homes81% occupied$354/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $64,523/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $19K/yr

81.5%

Very low income$19K–$32K/yr

15.7%

Low income$32K–$52K/yr

2.6%

Moderate / aboveOver $52K/yr

0.2%

Who Receives This Housing

75.1% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

80% of subsidized households are minority

26.2% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

37.1% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

15,4718.3%

By Region

Top Countries

Guatemala

4,032

Mexico

2,904

India

1,187

Germany

377

China

327

Korea

257

Philippines

190

Canada

183

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

89,903

Avg. Commutei

18.5 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

91,906

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

8,597(5.9% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

87.8%Insured

12.2%Uninsured