If you are thinking about visiting Chattanooga and have some qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered.
Lets deep dive into the some crime statistics and crime rates and see how safe or dangerous Chattanooga really is.
Is Chattanooga safe?
Statistically speaking, Chattanooga is a unsafe safe city. It’s violent crime rate of 1,382.67 per 100,000 residents is nearly 3.5 times higher than the national average and it’s property crime rate of 6,465.52 per 100,000 residents is 3.3 times greater than the national average. Its violent crime rate and property crime rate are some of the highest in the nation.
A person has a 1 in 72 chance of being a victim of a violent crime in Chattanooga, whereas they have only a 1 in 149 chance in the whole state of Tennessee. The city also has a much higher rate of burglary, rape, robbery, and theft per 100,000 people than the whole of the U.S.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Chattanooga’s violent crime rate:
Chattanooga, Tennessee crime rate breakdown
Violent Crime Rate
In 2020 Chattanooga reported 2,504 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 1,382.67 per 100,000 residents.
Chattanooga’s violent crime is similar to cities like Albuquerque, Oakland and New Orleans.
Year over year violent crime has increased 28%.
Here’s a graph showing you how violent crime has trended in Chattanooga over a 11 year period.
*Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.
Chattanooga’s Murder Rate
In 2020, Chattanooga reported 33 murders and had a murder rate of 18.22 per 100,000 residents. Chattanooga’s murder rate is nearly 3 times greater than the national average.
Chattanooga has a similar murder rate to cities like Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Houston.
You have a 1 in 5,488 chance of becoming a victim of murder in Chattanooga.
Here’s a graph showing you how murders have trended over the last 11 years in Chattanooga.
Here’s a map showing you the locations of all the murders in Chattanooga in 2021
(source)
Chattanooga’s Property Crime Rate
In 2020 Chattanooga reported 11,709 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 6,465.52 per 100,000 residents.
Chattanooga has one of the highest property crime rates in the nation and is on par with cities like San Francisco, Albuquerque and Memphis.
Year over year property crime has increased 16%.
You have a 1 in 15 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Chattanooga.
Here’s a graph showing you how property crime has trended in Chattanooga over a 11 year period.
*Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson
Chattanooga’s crime rate vs other cities in Tennessee (2020)
Here’s a graph showing you how Chattanooga’s crime rate compares to other cities in Tennessee. Chattanooga had the second highest crime rate of all the cities listed in 2020.
|
Population |
Violent Crime Rate |
1. Memphis |
633,104 |
2,418.24 |
2. Chattanooga |
181,099 |
1,382.67 |
3. Nashville |
689,447 |
1,153.24 |
4. Jackson |
68,205 |
1,030.72 |
5. Knoxville |
190,740 |
801.09 |
6. Clarksville |
166,722 |
589.60 |
7. Murfreesboro |
152,769 |
484.39 |
8. Johnson City |
71,046 |
416.63 |
9. Bartlett |
57,786 |
264.77 |
10. Franklin |
83,454 |
233.66 |
Chattanooga, Tennessee Crime Rate Comparison
Here’s a list of the top 23 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Chattanooga’s had the 18th highest crime rate in the nation.
How are Chattanooga’s crime rates calculated?
Crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
For example, in 2020 there were 2,504 violent crimes in Chattanooga and the population was 181,099. This equals a crime rate of 1,382.67 per 100,000 residents.
Chattanooga’s Crime Statistics
The most recent, complete set of crime statistics comes from the Chattanooga Police Department and are for 2019 and 2020:
|
2019 |
2020 |
Percent Change |
Homicide |
33 |
33 |
0% |
Rape |
165 |
182 |
10% |
Robbery |
196 |
268 |
37% |
Aggravated Assault |
1,556 |
2,021 |
30% |
VIOLENT CRIME TOTALS |
1,950 |
2,504 |
28% |
Burglary |
1,101 |
1,173 |
7% |
Larceny/Theft |
7,711 |
8,435 |
9% |
Motor Vehicle Theft |
1,315 |
2,101 |
60% |
PROPERTY CRIME TOTALS |
10,127 |
11,709 |
16% |
TOTALS |
12,077 |
14,213 |
18% |
How much has crime increased in Chattanooga?
In 2020, Chattanooga reported 14,213 total crimes, which is a 18% increase over 2019.
In 2020, Chattanooga reported 2,504 violent crimes, which is a 28% increase over 2019.
In 2020, Chattanooga reported 33murders, which is a 0% increase over 2019.
In 2020, Chattanooga reported 11,709 property crimes, which is a 16% increase over 2019.
Neighborhoods to avoid in Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Eastdale
- Avondale
- Alton Park
- Brainerd
- Highland Park
- Washington Hills
- Lake Hills
- Riverside
- Glenwood
- East Lake
- Orchard Knob
- Rossville Blvd
- Citico Ave
- MLK Blvd
- West Side
- South Side
Is Downtown Chattanooga safe?
Although downtown Chattanooga has a spotty reputation among some residents, it is generally a safe area during the daytime. At night you should stick to well populated areas, avoid walking through desolate areas and keep your wits about you.
Keep in mind that in certain parts of downtown you might encounter some vagrants and homeless people, but as long as you avoid them and don’t make eye contact, you should be good.
Is the public transportation in Chattanooga safe?
The public transportation system in Chattanooga is handled by the CARTA and it offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city.
The buses are generally a safe option to use during normal commuting hours (7am – 6pm), however we recommend that you use a taxi or ride sharing service outside of those hours. At night there are less people using the buses and it can get sketchy.
Is Chattanooga safe at night?
Chattanooga is generally safe at night as long as you stay out of the problem areas listed above. Be aware that streets and squares that are perfectly safe to visit in the daytime can be questionable and sketchy at night.
Learn the layout of the city and figure out which parts are good and which parts are bad and plan your trip accordingly.
Is Chattanooga safe from Tornadoes?
Chattanooga is not safe from tornadoes and is actually susceptible to them. The states of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska are consider part of tornado alley. A study of tornadoes that occurred between 1921–1995 concluded almost 1/4 of all significant tornadoes occur in this area.
What do residents of Chattanooga say about it’s safety?
- "I’ve lived here for about 5 years now and I’ve seen a fair bit of crime and even been a victim of crime. I would say it is less dangerous than cities like Chicago or Memphis but more dangerous than some other cities."
- "East Lake and Alton Park have a reputation for crime."
- "The crime statistics suggest that crime is a problem here and I did have someone break into my home a couple of years ago, but that can happen to anyone and anywhere."
- "The crime in Chattanooga is mostly concentrated in areas that you don’t want to visit or live in and its very obvious when you enter those areas."
- "Chattanooga is not a utopia and I’ve heard recent transplants mention how shocked they are about the crime here."
- "I’ve lived here all of my life and I’ve never been a victim of crime, but I also know where to not venture."
- "Chattanooga is just like any other mid sized city, and there are good spots and bad spots, but I’ve never felt unsafe."
- "Most crime here is concentrated in a few geographic areas. Stay out of those areas and you should be fine."
- "Chattanooga has high crime spots like any other city and even those places are really only dangerous at night time. If you avoid those areas and use common sense, you should be fine."
Facts about Chattanooga
- The population of Chattanooga in 2020 was 181,099 and is the 142nd most populous city in the United States.
- The city covers a land area of 142.35 square miles.
- 88.3% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 31.4% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
- The median income for a household in the city was $47,165. The per capita income for the city was $32,241.
- 17.6% of the population live below the poverty line.
- The median home value in Chattanooga is $275,000 in 2022.
- In 2022, the average rent for a Chattanooga 2-bedroom apartment is $1,326.
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