While Chattanooga has been known as a popular tourist destination for decades, many of its residents — especially many of those who’ve moved to the area in recent years — were drawn to the area by its unique blend of outdoor activities, growing tech scene, and overall affordability.

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But those aren’t the only reasons why folks love living in the Scenic City.

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Read on to learn why Chattanooga has become the envy of so many other cities across the nation.

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LOCATION

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Despite the famous song, you can’t actually travel to or from Chattanooga on a choo-choo. That said, Chattanooga just might be the easiest place to depart to visit the rest of the world.

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 Not only can you reach any part of the Greater Chattanooga area in a matter of minutes, but the city is centrally located just a couple of hours away by interstate from cities like Knoxville, Nashville, Birmingham, and Atlanta. Need to travel for business or a weekend getaway? If you leave Chattanooga at dawn, you can be in Memphis, Charlotte, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, or even the Florida panhandle by lunchtime. 

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The newly expanded Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport offers non-stop flights to Chicago, Las Vegas, Dallas, New York, Washington DC, Charlotte, and other major domestic hubs and destinations. 

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COST OF LIVING

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Despite the increasing numbers of people looking to call the area home, the region’s housing costs have remained accessible, with the median sale price considerably lower than the national average.

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The same goes for the overall cost of living. Housing (buying and renting), food, utilities, healthcare, transportation, and goods and services all fall between 3% and 12% below the national average. These lower costs help many people find Chattanooga a comfortable and affordable place to call home — especially young families and those who are looking to retire.

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES

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Chattanooga has a healthier job market than other metro areas its size.

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Dubbed “Gig City” after becoming the first city in the nation to offer one gigabit broadband internet — which has since grown to 10 gigabit — Chattanooga had become a haven for tech companies, creative start-ups, investors and entrepreneurs. Many of Chattanooga’s leading-edge companies operate near each other within the city’s tight-knit “Innovation District” in order to foster collaboration. 

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In addition to its burgeoning tech and entrepreneurial scenes, Chattanooga’s government, education services, health services, logistics, insurance, and manufacturing sectors are also major employers. These employers include Erlanger Health System, CHI Memorial Hospital, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Unum, Hamilton County Schools, Tennessee Valley Authority, Volkswagen Group of America, Amazon, McKee Foods Corp, Coca-Cola, and many, many more.

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ACTIVITIES

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An outdoor mecca, Chattanooga has twice been named “Best Town Ever” in Outside Magazine readers polls, and National Geographic Adventure calls Chattanooga one of the “Best Adventure Towns in the US to Live + Play.”

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Surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains and bordered by the Tennessee River, Chattanooga is overflowing with state parks, urban parks, hiking areas, climbing opportunities, mountain biking trails, a 16-mile riverwalk, and beautiful views perfect for long, relaxing drives. 

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Chattanooga is also home to a thriving arts, museum, and entertainment scene featuring small, acclaimed venues and large outdoor festivals. 

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The city hosts two Ironman competitions each year, and the Chattanooga Lookouts, the double-A baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, just broke ground on a brand new stadium

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Chattanooga is also known for numerous attractions that are popular with tourists and locals, including the Tennessee Aquarium, Incline Railway, Ruby Falls, Rock City, Tennessee Valley Railway Museum, Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park, and Lake Winnepesaukah amusement park in nearby North Georgia.

PEOPLE 

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Southern hospitality is alive and well in Chattanooga.

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The city is known for its friendly residents and sense of community, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home.

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Despite its steady growth, the small city has always felt more like a big town. Dozens of distinct neighborhoods are located within minutes from downtown — each with its own personality and, more importantly, common decency.

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QUALITY OF LIFE

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In addition to Chattanooga’s convenient location, affordable cost of living, robust job opportunities, numerous activities, and friendly locals, the city boasts other key selling points that further boost its overall quality of life.  

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Chattanooga is home to an excellent selection of public and private schools — including colleges and universities — as well as three major healthcare providers with numerous satellite locations and clinics. There are also numerous houses of worship and other organizations where you can get involved and give back.

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Downtown Chattanooga, Hixson, East Brainerd, and the hugely popular Northshore area feature a ton of great dining and shopping options, and Chattanooga has some of the cheapest gas in the nation, so you can better afford those options. (Other than during rush hour, traffic is pretty manageable, too.)

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Tennessee also has no state income tax, which can help you keep more money in your pocket and further enjoy the quality of life Chattanooga has to offer.

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