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

CSAChattanooga-Cleveland-Dalton MSAChattanooga#1/19 Population

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Demographics — 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

182,832

Median Agei

36.6

Race & Ethnicityi

White

55.8%101,964

Black

28.4%51,870

Hispanic/Latino

9.3%17,011

Two or More

3.7%6,797

Asian

2.3%4,276

Other

0.4%738

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%92

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%84

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.1%5,208

High School Diploma

20.1%25,436

Some College (<1 yr)

5.9%7,511

Some College (1+ yr)

15.9%20,075

Associate's Degree

8%10,070

Bachelor's Degree

21.6%27,260

Master's Degree

10.1%12,773

Professional Degree

2.1%2,645

Doctorate

1.7%2,174

HS or Higher

89.6%

BA or Higher

35.5%

Graduate+

13.9%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$259,200

Median Renti

$1,155

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

53.1%41,403

Renter-Occupied

46.9%36,513

Total Units

87,138

Homeownership

53.1%

Vacancy Rate

10.6%

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$61,028

Mean Household Incomei

$91,288

Per Capita Incomei

$40,040

Poverty Ratei

17%

Unemploymenti

4.9%

Labor Forcei

95,506

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 $61,028/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $18K/yr

81.5%

Very low income$18K–$31K/yr

15.7%

Low income$31K–$49K/yr

2.6%

Moderate / aboveOver $49K/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+)

Social Characteristicsi

Veteransi

8,580(5.9% of civilian adults)