Livability.com has unveiled its highly anticipated 2026 Top 100 Best Places to Live list, and Chattanooga has earned a spot among the nation’s most vibrant and livable small to mid-sized cities.
Now in its 13th year, Livability’s annual ranking is unique in its focus on cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000 – the “sweet spot” size that offers big opportunities while remaining small enough to feel like home. In a time of shifting economic tides, Chattanooga’s inclusion underscores its commitment to maintaining a community where residents can truly thrive.
“Our ‘Top 100’ is an annual data-driven collection of what we consider to be the best small to mid-size cities,” says Amanda Ellis, Livability.com Editor-in-Chief. “As Americans face consistently evolving work dynamics and a desire for the best quality of life possible amidst inflation and uncertainty, our list celebrates places where people can more realistically build families, launch businesses and lead meaningful lives.”
Why Chattanooga, TN, Stands Out
To build this list, Livability partnered with the data experts at Applied Geographic Solutions (AGS) to analyze nearly 100 data points across eight essential categories:
- Economy & Housing: We prioritize affordability by comparing average rents and home prices to local incomes.
- Amenities & Environment: We measure the “fun factor” alongside air quality and green space.
- Safety, Health & Education: We evaluate the vital infrastructure that keeps your family safe and supported.
- Transportation: We look for places where you spend less time in traffic and more time living.
Because Americans face a higher cost of living than ever before, this year’s proprietary algorithm gave extra weight to the Housing and Cost of Living category. To ensure the 2026 list remains attainable and affordable, Livability only includes cities with a median home value under $500,000.
Chattanooga stands out for its exceptional performance in the housing & cost of living, environment and amenities categories, proving it is a place where people can actually afford to live, work and play.
