The Chattanooga metro is home to 569,333 people (up 3.1% over five years), with a median household income of $68,666. Typical rent of $1,509/month works out to 26.4% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Chattanooga's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 21.7% |
| Manufacturing | 14.4% |
| Retail trade | 11.0% |
| Professional & management | 9.5% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.8% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 26.4% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Chattanooga market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,509/month suggests a household income around $60,000/year. The metro's median household income is $68,666.
By workforce share: Education & health care (21.7%), Manufacturing (14.4%), Retail trade (11.0%) (Census ACS 5-year).