If you’ve grown up around the Chattanooga area, there’s no doubt that the population grew post-COVID as individuals able to work remotely found housing to be incredibly cheaper than urban areas that are also overtaxed, such as New York and California, just to name two states from which many new Tennesseans have left.
The atmosphere of a “small town” with an incredibly blessed gift of natural resources that our community prioritizes, such as the Tennessee River, the mountains, and our green spaces, has been a magnet that is growing more and more populous and expensive with the growing demand of newcomers.
Another demographic group, retirees, has also decided with their actions to make Chattanooga one of the top ten cities in the US to which they are moving to spend their Golden Years.
According to a study released by SmartAsset.com, Chattanooga ranked 6th out of American cities for the net movement of retirees coming to the Scenic City, out of almost 185 cities in the research, released May 9. The top ten are, in order: Mesa, Arizona; San Antonio, Texas; Henderson, Nevada; St. Petersburg, Florida; Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Houston, TX; Fort Worth, TX; and Atlanta, Georgia.
According to SmartAsset.com, Census data was used looking at how many retirees moved out of the city to another state and how many moved into the city from another state of those aged 60 years young and older. Chattanooga, in the assessed comparison, had 1,917 retirees to move in from another state; 743 move out to another state, for a net movement of 1,174 making the percentage of the area’s population aged 60 years and older to be 23%. So almost one quarter of the population of the Chattanooga area is now of retirement age.
This demographic influx should inform those who look at economies and needs to know that housing costs, tax burden, availability of daily support–such as ease of shopping for essentials like food, medicine, and the demand for safe neighborhoods and access to wellness–will be necessary. Key activities, such as walking and reasonable prices when dining out and entertainment, are just a few things retirees seek.
Essentially, Chattanooga has been appealing for its natural beauty, its central location, its varied climate, and its reasonable cost of living. Elected officials and leaders shouldn’t be surprised to see a common list of incentives shared among this demographic and others coming to our blessed and beautiful area.
Now, the challenge is to have planned growth and development that support these treasured assets and to ensure that the tax burden and cost of living is seen as a priority when local and area governments are spending tax dollars, your money, on projects and community programs. Congratulations to the new Chattanoogans. Come make our communities better and help us keep that which drew you here.