Moving from Alabama to Chattanooga, TN

Outdoor city with a real downtown; small airport.

The money math

Housing does NOT get cheaper: $230K statewide median vs $328K in Chattanooga. This move is about something other than cost.

Top marginal state income tax drops from 5% to 0% — on $150K of taxable income, roughly $7,500/yr back (marginal-rate approximation; your effective savings depend on brackets and deductions).

What you gain — and what you give up

Dimension	Chattanooga score
Winter mildness	7/10
Summer comfort	6/10
Walkability	4/10
Outdoor access	9/10
Culture & food	6/10
Healthcare	9/10
Airport connectivity	6/10
Schools	5/10
Safety	5/10
Hazard safety	8/10

For a Alabama household optimizing cost, this is one of the stronger landing spots in the database.

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