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Living in
East Ridge.
About
Life in East Ridge
East Ridge is a community of 22,034 people in Tennessee. The median household income is $62,247, median rent runs about $1,147 per month, and median home values are around $211,100. Unemployment is low at 3.1%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
East Ridge at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.1%
Foreign-Born
9.6%
Broadband Internet
87.5%
of households
Population Growth
-1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in East Ridge: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In East Ridge, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (31.1%), and 12.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.1%
of residents
65 and Older
18.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.1%
of households
Married Couples
40.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.29
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for TN
Rent, home values, and income in East Ridge
In East Ridge, home values are 26% below the TN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,555
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1964
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $253,065 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TN
Unemployment in East Ridge and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Hamilton County, which includes East Ridge, is close to the TN average.
Unemployment rate
East Ridge: Hamilton County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Hamilton County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What East Ridge Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area
Commute21 min avg
How East Ridge residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In East Ridge, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (Lovell Field) (CHA)
Small hub632k passengers boarded in 2025
- 105 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 28% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in East Ridge runs 28% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
419.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,355.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
East Ridge Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 23 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hamilton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hamilton County, which includes East Ridge, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 23 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.5M |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 10 | Flash Flood | $2,000 |
| 2020 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.5M |
| 2019 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.0M |
| 2018 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.6M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hamilton County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hamilton County, which includes East Ridge, is typically good — 237 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
237
per year
Moderate Days
126
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Hamilton County, county-wide
Climate89°F summers, 34°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
East Ridge has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 34°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/52°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
53°/34°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
55.0"
Annual Snowfall
3.6"
Hot Days/Year
58
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
56
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 32°F | 5.02" |
| Feb | 56°F | 36°F | 5.03" |
| Mar | 64°F | 42°F | 5.34" |
| Apr | 74°F | 50°F | 4.87" |
| May | 81°F | 59°F | 3.94" |
| Jun | 88°F | 67°F | 4.18" |
| Jul | 91°F | 71°F | 5.08" |
| Aug | 90°F | 70°F | 3.67" |
| Sep | 84°F | 64°F | 4.23" |
| Oct | 74°F | 51°F | 3.59" |
| Nov | 62°F | 40°F | 4.80" |
| Dec | 53°F | 35°F | 5.25" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in East Ridge
Uninsured
13.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside East Ridge's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Parkridge Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Chattanooga
Memorial Healthcare System, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · 3.4 mi away · Chattanooga
Erlanger Behavioral Hospital, Llc
Psychiatric · 4.5 mi away · Chattanooga
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in East Ridge
East Ridge's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near East Ridge (within 15 miles)
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
5.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 10,074 students · in-state tuition $10,762 · 56% graduate · median earnings $56,442 (10 yrs after entry)
Chattanooga State Community College
7.1 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 5,284 students · in-state tuition $4,916 · 30% graduate · median earnings $43,805 (10 yrs after entry)
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga
3.7 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 4,462 students · 56% graduate · median earnings $34,579 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,773 students · in-state tuition $28,900 · 62% graduate · median earnings $58,780 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for East Ridge
East Ridge has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
National Military Park
5 mi awayRussell Cave National Monument
National Monument
33 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
46 mi awayKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
81 mi awayObed Wild & Scenic River
Wild & Scenic River
84 mi awayChattahoochee River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
87 mi awayStones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
91 mi awayMartin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in East Ridge
East Ridge City Library
1517 Tombras Avenue, East Ridge
Cities Near East Ridge
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to East Ridge?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
East Ridge FAQ
Is East Ridge, Tennessee affordable?⌄
East Ridge's median rent is $1,147/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $62,247/year. Median home value is $211,100.
Is East Ridge, Tennessee safe?⌄
East Ridge's violent crime rate was 420 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1356 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in East Ridge, Tennessee?⌄
Hamilton County, which includes East Ridge, has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in East Ridge, Tennessee?⌄
The cost of living in East Ridge is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,147/month and median household income is $62,247/year. The median home value is $211,100. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in East Ridge, Tennessee?⌄
The average commute in East Ridge is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from