Chattanooga TN vs Jonesboro AR — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Chattanooga, TN

Tennessee · Population: 182,832

Median HH Income$61,028
Median Home Price$322,291
Unemployment4.9%
Bachelor's+35.5%

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Chattanooga

182,832

Jonesboro

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Chattanooga

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Median Age

Chattanooga

36.6

Jonesboro

N/A

Foreign Born

Chattanooga

7.7%

Jonesboro

N/A

White

Chattanooga

58.4%

Jonesboro

N/A

Black

Chattanooga

28.6%

Jonesboro

N/A

Asian

Chattanooga

2.4%

Jonesboro

N/A

Hispanic

Chattanooga

9.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Spanish at Home

Chattanooga

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Chattanooga, TN	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Population	182,832	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	36.6	N/A	-
Foreign Born	7.7%	N/A	-
White	58.4%	N/A	-
Black	28.6%	N/A	-
Asian	2.4%	N/A	-
Hispanic	9.3%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Chattanooga

$61,028

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Income

Chattanooga

$40,040

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Chattanooga

$59,097

Chattanooga +

Jonesboro

$53,714

Unemployment Rate

Chattanooga

4.9%

Jonesboro

N/A

Poverty Rate

Chattanooga

17.6%

Jonesboro

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Chattanooga

35.5%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Chattanooga, TN	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median HH Income	$61,028	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$40,040	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$59,097	$53,714	Chattanooga +
Unemployment Rate	4.9%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	17.6%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	35.5%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Chattanooga

$322,291

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Homeownership Rate

Chattanooga

53.1%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Chattanooga, TN	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$322,291	$225,577	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	53.1%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Chattanooga

639

Chattanooga +

Jonesboro

660

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Chattanooga

2350

Chattanooga +

Jonesboro

2507

Metric	Chattanooga, TN	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	639	660	Chattanooga +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2350	2507	Chattanooga +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Chattanooga

36.3%

Chattanooga +

Jonesboro

39.2%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Chattanooga

13.9%

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Chattanooga

19.2%

Chattanooga +

Jonesboro

20.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Chattanooga

12.7%

Jonesboro

11.6%

Jonesboro +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Chattanooga

14.2%

Chattanooga +

Jonesboro

15.1%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Chattanooga

16.7%

Jonesboro

15.7%

Jonesboro +

Metric	Chattanooga, TN	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	36.3%	39.2%	Chattanooga +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	13.9%	11.4%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	19.2%	20.5%	Chattanooga +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	12.7%	11.6%	Jonesboro +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	14.2%	15.1%	Chattanooga +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	16.7%	15.7%	Jonesboro +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Chattanooga

60.9°F

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Chattanooga

52.5 in

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Jonesboro +

Metric	Chattanooga, TN	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	60.9°F	59.2°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	52.5 in	48.2 in	Jonesboro +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Chattanooga

8.9 µg/m³

Chattanooga +

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Chattanooga

75.0%

Chattanooga +

Jonesboro

55.0%

Metric	Chattanooga, TN	Jonesboro, AR	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.9 µg/m³	9.5 µg/m³	Chattanooga +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	55.0%	Chattanooga +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Chattanooga

20.3 min

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Chattanooga, TN	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	20.3 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Chattanooga is safer with a violent crime rate of 639 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Chattanooga has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Chattanooga scores better with a lower obesity rate of 36.3%.

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About Chattanooga & Jonesboro

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