Rankings/Chattanooga, TN-GA

Chattanooga, TN-GA

NeutralTier 1CBSA 16860Compare

Risk Rank: #66 of 274Month: 2026-05Score change (12m):— -3

57score

Composite risk percentile vs 274 metros (higher = higher risk)

Executive Summary

Chattanooga's housing market shows average risk, ranking 66th of 274 metros. The market recently entered Hypersupply. Inventory levels are elevated, warranting monitoring. Inventory accumulating faster than demand — the market is shifting toward buyers.

Chattanooga experienced a market correction from early 2025 through mid-2025. Elevated inventory persists, suggesting the market hasn't fully normalized.

Inventory is elevated (+30% YoY) and days on market are up +2% — supply is building but not yet at stress levels.

Rent growth is roughly keeping pace with price appreciation, suggesting valuations are not stretched.

Cycle Phase

RecoveryExpansionHypersupplyRecession

1 month in current phase

Building activity may be outpacing demand absorption

Key Dynamics

Risk is primarily driven by affordability and permits per capita, while migration provides the most support.

Top Drivers

Affordabilityp83

Mortgage payment / income

Permits per Capitap64

Permits per 1,000 residents

Employmentp61

12-month employment change (risk inverted)

Market Signals

Inventory is elevated (+30% YoY) and days on market are up +2% — supply is building but not yet at stress levels.

Liquidity

Watch↑

Active Listings YoY

+29.9%p79

Days on Market YoY

+1.9%p51

Months in status1

Data through May 2026

Valuation

Balanced—

Rent vs. Price Growth

-0.7%p54

Months in status1

Data through May 2026Rent growth vs price growth (rent support). Note: Affordability and Valuation measure different structural dimensions and can diverge.

Factor Details

Lower riskHigher risk

Low RiskBelow AvgNeutralElevatedHigh Risk

Price MomentumNeutral

+1.9%p57

12-month HPI change — higher = overheating

Permit GrowthNeutral

+2.2%p58

YoY permit change — higher = supply pressure

Permits per CapitaElevated

5.47p64

Permits per 1,000 residents — higher = overbuilding risk

AffordabilityHigh Risk

0.33p83

Mortgage payment / income — higher = more burdened

EmploymentElevated

-0.2%p61

12-month employment change (risk inverted)

MigrationBelow Avg

+$107Kp21

Net AGI migration (risk inverted)

National Context

Credit Conditions

Credit Regime

Stable—

Oversupply with deteriorating transactions and no credit excuse. Supply-driven correction risk is elevated.

Bank Lending Standards

-3.7Normal

Rate Change (YoY)

-38 bpsNormal

Mortgage Risk Premium

+199 bpsElevated

Stable for 9 quartersData through 2026-Q2

Supply Pipeline

Supply Regime

Accumulating—

Supply pipeline is building up while credit remains available. New units are accumulating in the system — watch for delivery pressure in coming quarters.

Pipeline Ratio

0.90Elevated

Completion-Permit Divergence

-5.9 ppNormal

Accumulating for 5 quartersData through 2026-Q2

Local Signals

Metro Permit Activity

Permit Activity

Normal

YoY Permit Growth

+2.2%Within norm

Raw signal — not the composite percentile

Relative to 2016–2019 norms for this metro

Permit activity is typical but demand is softening. Price pressure is forming on the demand side — this is not a supply problem.

Employment Concentration

Employment

Limited data

Largest SectorManufacturing 31.3%

7 of 20 sectors disclosed · QCEW 2024 annual averages

Internal Structure

Chattanooga's 6 counties show similar risk profiles — the metro-level score is broadly representative.

Low5.8Limited data

6 of 6 counties scored

Chattanooga, TN-GA shows Low internal divergence — county-level differences are minor and the metro composite is broadly representative. Marion County contributes the most structural risk (High Risk, driven by price momentum), while Catoosa County anchors the lower end (Average).

Within-metro factor percentiles (0 = lowest risk, 100 = highest risk)

County	Score ▼	Band	Pop %	Price	Permits	Afford
Marion CountyRisk Driver	80	High Risk	5.1%	100	80	60
Walker County	60	Elevated	11.9%	80	40	80
Hamilton County	60	Elevated	65.3%	20	60	100
Catoosa CountyStabilizer	50	Average	11.9%	40	20	40
Dade County<5%	40	Below Average	2.8%	60	100	0
Sequatchie County<5%	10	Low Risk	2.9%	0	0	20

Score History

Month	Phase	Score	Price	Permits	Afford	Employ	Migr
2025-12	Hyp	46	53	24	83	34	21
2025-10	Rec	59	43	73	82	66	20
2025-08	Hyp	59	40	73	82	68	20
2025-06	Hyp	60	47	73	82	68	20
2025-05	Ress	60	40	73	82	76	20
2025-03	Ress	55	28	73	82	60	20
2025-01	Hyp	58	38	73	82	64	20
2024-11	Hyp	51	34	73	82	29	20
2024-10	Ress	48	34	73	82	13	20
2024-08	Ress	52	58	73	82	11	20
2024-06	Hyp	57	89	73	83	6	20
2024-04	Ress	56	83	73	83	5	20
2024-02	Ress	56	77	73	82	13	20
2024-01	Hyp	54	67	73	82	15	20
2023-11	Exp	57	85	73	86	7	20
2023-09	Rec	55	79	73	84	4	20
2023-07	Rec	53	71	73	84	1	20
2023-06	Hyp	54	76	73	83	1	20
2023-04	Hyp	54	81	73	83	0	20
2023-02	Ress	56	91	73	84	1	20
2022-12	Ress	50	66	73	72	1	20
2022-09	Hyp	54	82	73	73	6	20
2022-08	Ress	54	82	73	73	10	20
2022-06	Ress	55	75	73	71	23	20
2022-05	Hyp	58	75	73	71	38	20
2022-04	Exp	58	76	73	71	40	20
2022-02	Exp	64	82	73	71	68	20
2021-12	Rec	68	77	74	73	93	23
2021-10	Rec	66	78	74	73	78	23
2021-09	Exp	63	77	74	72	64	23
2021-07	Exp	64	75	74	72	68	23
2021-05	Rec	64	78	74	71	71	23
2021-03	Rec	57	76	74	67	31	23
2021-02	Exp	56	78	74	67	28	23
2020-12	Exp	58	81	74	77	20	28
2020-11	Rec	59	81	74	77	24	28
2020-09	Rec	62	89	74	78	34	28
2020-06	Exp	59	78	74	77	30	28
2020-04	Exp	62	80	74	77	41	28
2020-03	Rec	62	73	74	75	50	28
2020-01	Rec	63	77	74	75	54	28
2019-10	Rec	59	64	74	75	43	27
2019-07	Rec	61	83	74	75	38	27
2019-05	Exp	58	72	74	74	34	27
2019-03	Exp	56	68	74	73	28	27
2019-02	Hyp	56	73	74	73	20	27
2019-01	Exp	56	77	74	73	18	27

Data Vintages

Price (HPI)2026-Q1

Permits2026-05

Income2024

Employment2026-05

Migration2023