Report: Chattanooga among top-searched cities for relocating

When people look for places to move, a new report shows they’re often finding Chattanooga.

The city was the 20th most searched destination for relocation in the United States during the first quarter of the year, according to an analysis of internet searches from U.S. News & World Report.

Mike Litke moved to Chattanooga from Atlanta about three years ago with his wife, after retiring.

“We love it here,” Litke said by phone. “We should have moved here years ago.”

Tennessee is the second most searched state for moving, the report showed, with Knoxville and Franklin also seeing high interest from U.S. adults looking to relocate.

(READ MORE: Study: Chattanooga among top relocation destinations people are considering in 2024)

Some of that interest comes from Tennessee’s good climate, U.S. News managing editor Megan Wood said, as well as its relatively low cost of living and fiscal stability.

“A dollar goes a little further,” Wood said by phone.

In general, southern cities are seeing more interest from people looking to move, Wood said. Of the top 50 most-searched cities, 33 of them are in the Sunbelt (the lower parts of the country), the report said, and most are suburbs of larger metro areas, she said.

“People are looking for a big city experience on a smaller scale,” Wood said. “So people are avoiding a higher cost and denser populations.”

Chattanooga has added around 10,000 residents since 2020, according to census data, a 5.4% increase. Tennessee’s population increased by 4.6% in the same time.

(READ MORE: My Chattanooga – Your guide to the Scenic City)

‘MOVE TO CHATTANOOGA’

Local real estate agent Robert Baker’s YouTube channel, Move to Chattanooga, is full of videos with titles like “Why EVERYONE is moving to Chattanooga, TN!”, “Chattanooga Tennessee Homes: Buy NOW or WAIT?” and “The TOP reason Californians are moving to Tennessee!”

About a third of his business comes from people looking to move to the Scenic City, Baker said. He’s even filed a federal trademark for “Move to Chattanooga.” Many of his clients are playing the long game, he said, planning out their move a year or two in advance.

Social media and technology have dramatically changed how people look for homes, Baker said.

“Where people are going first is online,” he said. “They go home shopping … they look at the pretty pictures, oftentimes there’s videos and stuff like that. And so that’s how they make a decision.”

There are plenty of reasons his clients are looking at Chattanooga — outdoor recreation and activities included — but cost is often the deciding factor, he said. The lack of state income tax, even on retirement distributions, is attractive, he said, and property taxes tend to be relatively lower here.

“They’re concerned about their bottom line,” Baker said.

(READ MORE: Hamilton County home values spike, sparking tax concerns)

Often, they’re coming from states like California, Illinois, New York or Texas, Baker said. He’s also heard many people are looking to move from Florida, fleeing natural disasters and the high insurance rates that come with them.

People are seeking places close to shopping or to a hospital or near good schools. One client said she absolutely needed to be within 30 minutes of a Costco.

It’s also common for people to move here because they know a family member or friend who lives in Chattanooga who likes it, Baker said. Or, they may have another connection to the city.

“They’ve either gone to school here, or they’ve got kids going to college nearby,” he said.

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‘PRETTY SPECTACULAR PLACE’

It was a friend’s rave reviews that lured Dennis Rushing from California’s Central Valley to Hamilton County in 2021, Rushing said. Twelve people have now relocated to the area thanks to the same friend, he said.

“We wanted a slower pace of life,” Rushing, who moved with his wife to East Brainerd, said by phone. “That was one of the big things for us, besides the political climate of California. We were just done.”

(READ MORE: Many former Californians, Floridians in recent years choose to call Chattanooga home)

He was also drawn by lower costs, particularly savings on gas, insurance and taxes. The outdoor recreation was also a big plus, he said — and the area’s green and rolling landscape. (Worse allergies are the only downside to that, he added.)

“I didn’t realize how beautiful it is here,” he said. “I tell everybody there’s so much to do — hiking, biking, water sports.”

Now, Rushing said, he’s the friend telling people back in California all about the wonders of Tennessee.

“It’s a pretty spectacular place,” he said.

When Mike Litke and his wife were looking to leave Atlanta, they knew they wanted a smaller-town feel. They considered Knoxville briefly, he said, but it didn’t have the same vibe.

“There’s almost anything to do here, but you don’t have the hassles and the traffic that Atlanta has,” Litke said. “The amount of activities that the city has for people, the concerts and the festivals and all those kinds of things … just the whole atmosphere in Chattanooga is more laid-back.”

(READ MORE: Chattanooga drivers urged to seek interstate alternatives)

They ended up buying a townhome near Hamilton Place — not their first choice, Litke said, but there wasn’t much on the market when they were looking during the post-pandemic boom.

In general, things like dining out and living costs seem to be lower here, Litke said, though he still heads to Georgia to make some big purchases because of the lower sales tax. He also didn’t realize that by living in Chattanooga, he would be paying city property taxes in addition to the ones levied by the county.

“We would have moved outside city limits if we knew there was tax on top of tax,” Litke said.

His only other critique?

“They need to finish the split,” Litke said. “Please.”

Contact Ellen Gerst at egerst@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6319.