What Are The 8 Safest Neighborhoods In Chattanooga, TN?

Paige Hanawalt
by Paige Hanawalt

Chattanooga is a city in southeast Tennessee, located along the Tennessee River and the Appalachian Mountains. There is a lot of scenic beauty in Chattanooga, and like many of its Southern counterparts it is a friendly city. There is a lot to do and see, especially outdoors.

The safest neighborhoods in Chattanooga include Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain, Walden, Fairmount, and Lakesite. All of these neighborhoods have high safety ratings, good school systems, and are conveniently located from the city center. These neighborhoods are generally to the north or south of downtown. Lookout Mountain is the safest neighborhood in Chattanooga, where total crime rates are 85% lower than the national average.

Chattanooga has a budding music scene, with plenty of places to catch a live show. There is a variety of restaurants and bars to choose from for entertainment and there is also public art around the city, making it a great place to settle down!

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8 Safest Neighborhoods in Chattanooga, TN

Generally speaking, the crime rates in Chattanooga are higher than the national average. As is the case in any large city, there are bound to be some crime issues. However, there are several neighborhoods in Chattanooga that have low crime rates and are safe to live in! The safest neighborhoods in Chattanooga, TN are:

  • Lookout Mountain
  • Signal Mountain
  • Walden
  • Fairmount
  • Lakesite
  • Falling Water
  • Mowbray Mountain
  • Apison

Keep reading to discover why you should consider these 8 safe neighborhoods in Chattanooga!

1. Lookout Mountain

  • Population: 1,930
  • Median Income: $120,875
  • Crime Rate: 57% less than the national average
  • Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

Lookout Mountain is located to the south of downtown Chattanooga. This neighborhood is located in Hamilton County, TN, which is considered one of the best places to live in the state! It’s a rural area that’s great for families, retirees, and health and fitness lovers. You’ll love getting outside in this area!

The public school system in Lookout Mountain is above average, which makes this neighborhood the best for families with children. Most people in Lookout Mountain own their homes so you’ll have a chance to get to know your neighbors well.

According to the most recent FBI crime statistics available, the violent crime here is 100% less than the national average, which will put you at ease, especially if you have young children!

2. Signal Mountain

  • Population: 8,500
  • Median Income: $98,665
  • Crime Rate: 80% less than the national average
  • Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

Located to the north of Chattanooga, Signal Mountain is another safe neighborhood to call home. Signal Mountain is also in Hamilton County but has a more suburban feel compared to Lookout Mountain. The neighborhood itself is affluent and well-maintained.

This is also a good place to call home for retirees and young families. Signal Mountain appears on several different lists of the best suburbs to live in Tennessee! The schools, as well as the job market, are above average. You’ll also appreciate its proximity to the Tennessee River Gorge.

The crime rate here is 80% less than the national average, making Signal Mountain one of the safest neighborhoods in the Chattanooga area. The violent crime rate is even lower, coming in at 88% less than the national average.

3. Walden

  • Population: 1,907
  • Median Income: $83,083
  • Crime Rate: 82% less than the national average
  • Unemployment Rate: 0.8%

Walden is another Chattanooga neighborhood located in Hamilton County. It’s north of downtown and isn’t very far from Signal Mountain. Walden is a small neighborhood with a population of just under 2,000 residents.

There are a lot of families in the area, and the neighborhood’s public school system ranks among the best in Chattanooga. Most residents own their homes and are white-collar workers. Professions include managers, office workers, people who work in sales, as well as healthcare workers. The crime rate in Walden is 82% less than the national average, which makes it a safe place to raise children.

This neighborhood is known around the state for its beautiful homes and pricey real estate. There is also plenty to do outdoors in Walden!

4. Fairmount

  • Population: 3,197
  • Median Income: $100,707
  • Crime Rate: 75% less than the national average
  • Unemployment Rate: 3.2%

Fairmount is another Chattanooga neighborhood located to the north of the city. It boasts a crime rate 75% less than the national average, and residents say that there is virtually no crime here and that there’s a strong sense of community.

Fairmount is filled with greenery and things to do outside, such as hiking and walking trails. The houses are large with even larger backyards which is great for pets or your kids. In recent years, the unemployment rate has dropped to 3.2% compared to the 6% national average. This positive job growth is attractive if you’re moving to Chattanooga for work!

The public schools in Fairmount rank above the national average and are just another reason why this area is great for raising a family.

5. Lakesite

  • Population: 1,911
  • Median Income: $64,143
  • Crime Rate: 66% less than the national average
  • Unemployment Rate: 3.8%

Located to the northeast of downtown Chattanooga, Lakesite is a small and generally quiet neighborhood. It is more rural than some of the other neighborhoods on this list, so if you like getting outside, you may consider moving here!

As its name suggests, Lakesite is located along the Chickamauga Lake. If you’re in the market for a waterfront home in Chattanooga, this should be your go-to neighborhood! There are also so many different outdoor activities that happen on the lake, such as boating, fishing, and even jet skiing.

Plus, crime in Lakesite has been decreasing by about 6% every year. It boasts a crime rate 66% less than the national average, and the violent crime rate, in particular, is 59% less than the national average.

6. Falling Water

  • Population: 1,198
  • Median Income: $53,750
  • Crime Rate: 62% less than the national average
  • Unemployment Rate: 8.6%

Falling Water is located to the north of the center of Chattanooga. Falling Water is a safe place in Tennessee to start a family, thanks to low housing prices and a cost of living that is 9.8% lower than the national average. Plus, the crime rates are lower than the national average too!

This Chattanooga neighborhood is small with a population of just over 1,000. The small-town feeling you’ll get in Falling Water means that it’s a nice area for young families with children or pets. You won’t have to worry about a lot of street traffic here!

If you like hiking, don’t miss the Falling Water Falls Trail, which features a natural waterfall in the Falling Water Falls State Natural Area.

7. Mowbray Mountain

  • Population: 1,639
  • Median Income: $46,017
  • Crime Rate: 59% less than the national average
  • Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

Mowbray Mountain is north of downtown. This is another great choice for all of you outdoors lovers! Residents love the hiking, walking, and biking trails here. There are dozens, if not more, creeks to help you cool down in the summer months – when Tennessee is known to be extremely warm! For the even more adventurous, there are places in Mowbray Mountain where you can go sport climbing up naturally formed sandstone “walls” found on several different hiking trails.

Mowbray Mountain is also a good choice for retirees who want to enjoy mountain scenery in their later years.

In addition to the beautiful setting, Mowbray Mountain boasts a crime rate 59% less than the national average and a property crime rate 61% less than the national average.

8. Apison

  • Population: 2,540
  • Median Income: $53,017
  • Crime Rate: 58% less than the national average
  • Unemployment Rate: 4.2%

Like most of the neighborhoods on this list, Apison is small with a population of just over 2,500. If you want to live in an area where you know your neighbors, people are willing to lend a hand, and where things move at a slower pace, you’ll love Apison. Residents say that Apison is a tight-knit community. There is also plenty of greenery and woods to explore.

The crime rate in Apison is 58% lower than the national average. So is the cost of living! If you’re on a budget or want to save on buying a home, you may want to consider building a life here. Schools in the area are ranked highly and real estate is affordable, making it a great place to raise a family!

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Summing it up

Chattanooga, TN, and the suburbs that surround it are filled with the natural beauty of the Tennessee River and the Appalachian Mountains. There are so many different outdoor activities that you’ll never wonder what to do on the weekends! If you’re more interested in culture, don’t miss the outdoor art scene and live music venues scattered throughout the city.

While there are some areas in Chattanooga that are more dangerous than others, don’t miss these 8 above-average neighborhoods that are totally safe to live in!

Paige Hanawalt
Paige Hanawalt

Paige is an elementary school librarian with a passion for writing. Her hobbies include reading an exorbitant amount of fantasy, slowly teaching herself to draw, and home decor. While she isn't the most talented artist or interior designer, what she lacks in skill she more than makes up for in enthusiasm. When she's not curled up with a book, you can certainly find her curled over the keyboard.

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