B-

Ooltewah, TN

Source:

Affordability Score: 68/100

Population: 32,244 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Ooltewah, TN aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 32,244 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B- (68/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $97,399, median home value of $376,800, median rent of $1,630 per month, and 44.1% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,390 per month (studio $1,211, 1BR $1,263, 3BR $1,734, 4BR $1,853). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $11,007 per year, consuming 11% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Ooltewah, TN include income, education, rent. Unemployment currently reads 3.4% and poverty 6.0% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B+
$97,399
Median household income
Education B+
44.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.9x
Home value $376,800 vs income
Commute C-
26 min
Average commute time
Rent A
$1,390/mo
2BR fair market rent (17% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B-
$11,007/yr
Center-based infant care (11% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$97,399
▲ 57% vs national
Per Capita Income
$48,995
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Poverty Rate
6.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
$376,800
▲ 37% vs national
Median Rent
$1,630/mo
Owner Occupied
75.2%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,390/mo
▲ 16% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,211
1BR
$1,263
2BR
$1,390
3BR
$1,734
4BR
$1,853

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
44.1%
▲ 14 ppt vs national
High School+
64.7%
Median Age
43.4
Avg. Commute
26 min
▼ 0 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$11,007/yr
11% of income
Toddler (Center)
$7,610/yr
Preschool (Center)
$7,610/yr
School-Age (Center)
$3,969/yr

What This Means

Ooltewah, TN receives an overall affordability grade of B- (68/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 32,244. This area performs well in income and education and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Ooltewah, TN affordable?
Ooltewah, TN receives an overall affordability grade of B- (68/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $97,399. Median home value is $376,800.
What is the cost of living in Ooltewah?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,630/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,390/mo. Infant childcare $11,007/yr. Median home value $376,800.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →