Eugene vs Chattanooga: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Eugene, OR and Chattanooga, TN, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricEugene, ORChattanooga, TN
Population176,755181,288
Median household income$61,481$57,703
Median home value$406,000$230,500
Median rent (/mo)$1,269$1,066

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Eugene, OR and Chattanooga, TN comes down to what you value most. Chattanooga has the lower median home value, and Chattanooga has the lower median rent.

Eugene has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Chattanooga?
By median home value, Chattanooga is the cheaper of the two ($230,500 vs $406,000). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Eugene or Chattanooga?
Median household income is $61,481 in Eugene versus $57,703 in Chattanooga, per the US Census Bureau.

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