What it's like to live in Collegedale
Collegedale is a small city in Tennessee with county unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Collegedale deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, above-average rainfall, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Collegedale compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Collegedale
Based on Collegedale's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,162
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $63,240 a year
- 36% of Collegedale renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$73,020
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $36,510
- Homes cost 5.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 12% above US
$1,581/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,581 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $365,100. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $365,100 · 36% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Hamilton County is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Hamilton County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 84% below US
52 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 836/100k · Collegedale Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 19% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 34°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 41% above US
51% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
2 public schools inside the boundary
There are 2 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park (16 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Collegedale's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and above-average rainfall. A year of median rent ($1,581/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (19% of workers here already work from home).
Other places near Collegedale
All Tennessee guides →Moving to East Ridge →
11 mi away · pop. 22,070
Rent $1,147/mo · Income $62,247
Compare with Collegedale →Moving to Chattanooga →
11 mi away · pop. 185,783
Rent $1,256/mo · Income $64,523
Compare with Collegedale →Moving to Middle Valley →
12 mi away · pop. 12,187
Rent $1,180/mo · Income $95,000
Compare with Collegedale →Moving to Cleveland →
13 mi away · pop. 48,829
Rent $1,034/mo · Income $58,559
Compare with Collegedale →Not sure Collegedale is the one?
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