$100k salary, packing up from Dayton
changea dispatch from
chattanooga
TN
35.05°N
85.31°W
Chattanooga became the first city in the country to roll out gigabit fiber internet to every home (2010, via the municipal utility), which jump-started a tech and remote-work scene. Lookout Mountain rises right above town, with Ruby Falls' underground waterfall and Rock City's epic views. The Tennessee Riverwalk is gorgeous. The Choo Choo (old terminal turned hotel) is a fun stay.
the verdict
less monthly outlay than Dayton
Chattanooga and Dayton land close on cost. The reasons to move are about how you'd live, not what you'd save.
a quick ledger.
$1,524/mo
15% more expensive than Dayton(vs $1,321/mo)
0%
$332/mo less in state tax than Dayton
vs 3.99% in Dayton
$6,809/mo
$129 more than Dayton
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$322k
132% more expensive than Dayton
vs $139k in Dayton
580k
vs 808k in Dayton
field notes, weather & such.
167
pleasant days a year, in chattanooga.
Dayton gets 171 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.
Nights and weekends fill up faster. 1.6× more on the calendar than Dayton.
69/100
11% higher than Dayton
vs 62/100 in Dayton
Closest outdoor draw: Cumberland Trail, 12.2 mi.
82/100
8% lower than Dayton
vs 89/100 in Dayton
8
50% fewer than Dayton
vs 16 nonstops in Dayton
if chattanooga appeals, also worth a look:
