Side-by-side comparison of Chattanooga, TN and Knoxville, TN — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Chattanooga has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.29% compared to Knoxville's 4.26%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $270,000 in Chattanooga vs $280,000 in Knoxville, while rents come in at $1,340/mo and $1,380/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Knoxville is growing faster at 1.2% annually vs Chattanooga's 1%. Knoxville leads on home value appreciation at 3.5% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.54% in Chattanooga vs 0.55% in Knoxville. Vacancy rates of 5.4% and 5.2% are both healthy, suggesting strong tenant demand in both markets.
Bottom line: Chattanooga edges out Knoxville on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.29%, Chattanooga's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Chattanooga or Knoxville.