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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Chattanooga, TN has a Safety Score of 4/100 — higher crime than 96% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,766.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,830 of 2,957 US cities and #56 of 59 in Tennessee.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Chattanooga, TN?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Chattanooga, Tennessee Safe?
Chattanooga, nestled along the Tennessee River with Lookout Mountain forming part of its scenic backdrop, was a pivotal Civil War battleground. This mid-sized city boasts a diverse population exceeding 180,000 residents in its metropolitan area.
Chattanooga has a safety score of 4/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,766.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Chattanooga ranks #56 out of 59 cities in Tennessee and #2830 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 4th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 96% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Chattanooga is rape, at 91.1 per 100K — 2.1x the national average.
Year over year, Chattanooga's total crime rate decreased by 19.9%, with violent crime declining 24.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Chattanooga Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,557 | 824.3 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 24 | 12.7 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 172 | 91.1 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 177 | 93.7 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,183 | 626.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 7,447 | 3,942.4 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 717 | 379.6 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 5,471 | 2,896.3 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1,259 | 666.5 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Chattanooga vs Tennessee Average
How does Chattanooga's crime rate compare to the Tennessee state average?
| Metric | Chattanooga | Tennessee Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 824.3 | 916.8 | -10.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,942.4 | 3,281.7 | +20.1% |
| Murder Rate | 12.7 | 13.0 | -2.4% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,766.7 | 4,198.5 | +13.5% |
Chattanooga Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Chattanooga, Tennessee.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 188,894 | 4,766.7 | 824.3 | 3,942.4 |
| 2023 | 185,370 | 5,950.8 | 1,093.5 | 4,857.3 |
| 2022 | 182,603 | 6,335.6 | 1,128.1 | 5,207.5 |
| 2021 | 186,222 | 7,144.7 | 1,307.0 | 5,837.7 |
| 2020 | 184,211 | 7,690.6 | 1,330.5 | 6,360.1 |
| 2019 | 181,848 | 6,627.5 | 1,070.1 | 5,557.4 |
Chattanooga Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Chattanooga and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Tennessee crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chattanooga, Tennessee safe?
Chattanooga has a safety score of 4/100, meaning it has less crime than about 4% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,766.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Chattanooga is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Chattanooga, Tennessee?
According to FBI data for 2024, Chattanooga has a violent crime rate of 824.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,942.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Chattanooga compare to the national average?
Chattanooga's total crime rate of 4,766.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 188,894 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Chattanooga?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Chattanooga are larceny-theft (5,471 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (1,259 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.8x in the city.
Is Chattanooga safe to visit?
Like any city, Chattanooga has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 4/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.