10 Best Independent Living Communities in Chattanooga, TN

 

Independent Living in Chattanooga, TN

 

Independent living communities in Chattanooga are designed exclusively for adults over the age of 55. While residents live independently, most communities offer amenities, activities, and other convenient services as well.

Cost of Independent Living in Chattanooga, TN

The median monthly cost of independent living in Chattanooga, TN is about $2,727 in the city proper and $2,798 within the metropolitan area. When it comes to independent living in Chattanooga, A Place For Mom’s local Senior Living Advisors can help you find the right community.

Learn More About Chattanooga, TN

 

Cost of Living

 

In Chattanooga, cost of living is a huge factor in selecting which senior living option is best for your family. The cost-of-living and grocery indexes are both rated 8 points below the national average. All index scores are based on a sliding scale with the national average set at 100.

Cost-of-living index	Grocery index	Median rent	Rent burden	Median home value	Median family income	Estate tax
92	92	$870	17.4% spend over 30% of their income on rent	$153,351	$41,911	None

 

 

Local Hospitals

 

The highest-rated hospitals in Chattanooga include:

• Parkridge Hospital East – This 128-bed hospital offers a full range of medical and surgical services including orthopedics and robotic surgery. The 24/7 Emergency Department is recognized as an Accredited Chest Pain Center by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.
• Erlanger Baroness Hospital – This 674-bed community is the largest hospital in the city of Chattanooga. The hospital offers the only level I trauma center in the tri-state region with 6 helicopter ambulances. The world-class Erlanger Southeast Regional Stroke Center is also located here.
• Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Chattanooga – This 50-bed rehabilitation community offers specialized care to those who have been affected by an injury or chronic illness. They offer inpatient rehabilitation care for stroke, hip fracture, and other various orthopedic and neurological conditions.

 

 

Weather and Climate

 

Chattanooga has a humid subtropical type of climate. This means that the summers are long, hot, and muggy while the winters tend to be short and rainy. It is partly cloudy year round and there are often high levels of humidity. On average, the humidity level for Chattanooga is about 70%. The humidity levels are often highest during the month of September at around 73%.

Seasonal Temperatures

Average summer temp	Typical summer high	Typical summer low	Average winter temp	Typical winter high	Typical winter low
80°F	92°F (July)	66°F (July)	44°F	57°F (February)	31°F (January)

 

Air Quality

Average air quality index rating	Average maximum air quality index rating
44 (Good)	52 in December (Moderate)

Moderate conditions mean that those who are sensitive to particulates in the air should consider limiting the amount of time they spend on outdoor exertion.

Precipitation

Average monthly precipitation	Average maximum monthly precipitation	Average yearly snowfall
5”	7” (December)	2”

 

 

Demographics and Values

 

2016 Presidential Election for Hamilton County

Voted Democratic	Voted Republican	Voted Third Party
38.8%	55.3%	5.9%

 

Population Statistics

Population metro area	Population city proper	Population density	Population trend
407,182	179,139	483 people per square mile	Growing at a rate of 0.93%

 

Age

Median	55+	60+	70+	80+
37	28%	11%	6%	5%

 

Highest Level of Education

High-school diploma	College degree	Graduate degree
28%	29%	10%

 

Race & Ethnicity

Asian	Black	Hispanic	Native American	Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian	White	Two or more
2.4%	32.6%	6.1%	0.1%	<1%	56.6%	2.4%

 

Crime

Total crimes	Property crimes per 1,000 citizens	Violent crimes per 1,000 citizens
12,721	60	11

 

Miscellaneous

Unemployed	Participate in the labor force	Have some form of disability	Live in poverty	Widows	Veterans
7%	61%	15%	21%	7%	8%

Chattanooga is considered somewhat unfriendly to members of the LGBTQ+ community. This means that members of the community might face bigotry or discrimination in certain parts of the city.

 

Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Recreation

 

Located on the banks of the Tennessee river at the foothills of the Appalachian mountain range, Chattanooga’s nickname of “Scenic City” is certainly well-deserved. Along the river’s waterfront you can find many bars and restaurants. To get a panoramic view of the city, take the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway from the historic St. Elmo District to the top of the mountain. Once there you can visit the National Park Service’s Point Park, where you can learn details about the Battle of Chattanooga which was fought during the Civil War. For those who are afraid of heights there are tons of nearby caverns and cave systems where you can take tours. There is even a 145-foot underground waterfall known as Ruby Falls.

One of the most iconic locations in the city is the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. Located in a railway station that was built at the turn of the 20th century, the hotel has a convention center as well as several restaurants and shops. Guests can even spend the night in a restored passenger railway car that has been converted into a hotel room. There are also a number of museums in the city that highlight the town’s past. The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum commemorates the city as the birthplace of the tow truck. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum has the largest operating historic railroad in the South, including a fully-functioning historic passenger train teaching people about the history of locomotion. Other notable museums in the city include the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Chattanooga History Center, the National Medal of Honor Museum, the Houston Museum, the Chattanooga African American Museum, and the Creative Discovery Museum.

Transportation

Public transportation is available through the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority or CARTA, which operates 17 routes. There is a free electric shuttle that services the downtown area and many of the buses in the city have free wireless internet.