I-75 Summit Bypass, c. 1956
Collegedale’s story
110 years in pictures
Census counts: 3,031 in 1970, 11,109 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 1956 and 4 maps from 1935 on.
- 1916Collegedale is settled
Population
11,499
2025 Census estimate · +3.6% since 2020
Typical home
$414K
−0.4% in a year
Household income
$70K
median
Median age
36.4
years
Jobs based here
3,253
Balanced
TownGrade
B+
#31 of 175 in TN
Is Collegedale a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Collegedale grades B+ overall, ranked 31st of 175 in Tennessee. Residents are healthier than 76% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates and the median household earns $70K. What holds it back is price: the typical home is worth about $414K, 5.7 years of the Chattanooga metro’s $72K median household income. Collegedale’s trail density is 3.9 miles per square mile, against 0.2 in Tennessee’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns. On walkability, just 25 of Tennessee’s 292 towns do better. Collegedale is home to Southern Adventist University.
What makes Collegedale stand out
Where Collegedale beats most towns.
A growing town
Collegedale has grown 39% since 2010
8,282 counted in 2010 and 11,109 in 2020; an estimated 11,499 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Collegedale grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Tennessee), ordered by how far Collegedale is from typical.
Cost of livingC−Open →HealthCommonspirit-Memorial Hospital-North Georgia 11.5 miles awayA−Open →Jobs & incomeA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 43% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.7 of 20; 4% of households have no car; 9.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →SafetyB+Open →SchoolsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors5% conserved landB+Open →HistoryD−Open →Civic life5.5 library visits per resident; 3.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market$414K typical home, down 0.4% in a year–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 36.4; 51% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 28 attractions →Lookout Mountain and 17 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Collegedale. Close and well known come first.
24 mi MountainLookout Mountain
17 mi WaterfallRuby Falls32 mi CaveEllison's Cave
9 mi MuseumTennessee Valley Railroad Museum13 mi Theme parkLake Winnepesaukah
15 mi Zoo & aquariumTennessee AquariumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Lookout Mountain: Teke, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ruby Falls: Oydman (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: TVSRR at English Wikipedia. Photo by Jason Trew /TVSRR, Public domain · Tennessee Aquarium: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Collegedale: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Collegedale, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of Chattanooga12.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterEastside Utility DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpCollegedale Recycling CenterTown pickupTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Tennessee you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHamilton County Election CommissionHamilton County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP codes37363, 37315, 37302, 3735337363 78% · 37315 16% · 37302 5% · 37353 2%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Collegedale.
Collegedale has more trail for its size than nearly any town in Tennessee, is shaped by its college students and fares better on crime within Tennessee than nationally.
OutdoorsB+
Conserved land covers 4.7% of Collegedale
At 3.9 miles of trail per square mile, it ranks #2 of 107 Tennessee towns.
48 miles of trail in 8 parks and preserves. Bauxite Ridge, at 437 acres with 17.2 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
#2for trails in TN
4.7%
conserved · 372 of 7,949 acres
48 mi
of trails · 3.9 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bauxite Ridge | 17.2 mi | 437 |
| 2. Little Debbie Park | 0.6 mi | 10 |
| 3. Veteran's Park | 0.4 mi | 13 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB
Collegedale’s schools rank ahead of 59% of Tennessee districts
Its public schools are run by the Hamilton County school district. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
59%of TN districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolftever Creek Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 632 | B |
| Collegedale Academy PrivateLargest high schoolGrades PK–12 | Grades PK–12 | 904 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TN on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
Compared with most of Tennessee and the rest of the country, fewer of Collegedale’s adults have high blood pressure
Against the 10,531 U.S. towns with household incomes like Collegedale’s, it is healthier than 92%, so its A− isn’t only a matter of income.
31% of Collegedale adults have high blood pressure, below both Tennessee’s towns (41%) and U.S. towns (35%). 29% of adults have obesity in Collegedale. Collegedale beats the Tennessee average on 17 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
76%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Collegedale | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 39% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 16% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 41% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 28% | 25% |
31 measures vs. Tennessee
17 better13 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Collegedale | TN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 11% | 16.2% |
| Fewer smokers | 11.9% | 17.3% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 73.1% | 76.2% |
Commonspirit-Memorial Hospital-North Georgia
11.5 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
91st
percentile among TN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade C−
Collegedale earns a C− for cost of living
The median property tax bill is $2,402, against $1,442 across Tennessee, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
44% of Collegedale households own their home. The typical Collegedale home is worth about $414,000, about the same as a year ago, 25% above the Tennessee typical home. The median rent in Collegedale is $1,581 a month.
$414KZillow home value
| Collegedale | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 44% | 66% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,581 a month | $944 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Collegedale$414K
Tennessee$331K
−0.4%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyB+
Less crime per resident in Collegedale than in 66% of U.S. towns
At 12.7 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 82% of Tennessee’s graded towns. Reported crimes fell from 154 to 103 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Collegedale’s violent crime rate is 0.5 per 1,000 residents.
66%of U.S. towns report more crimeB+Safety Grade
| Collegedale | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.5 per 1,000 residents | 2.7 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 8.4 per 1,000 residents | 11.5 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Collegedale0.5
Tennessee5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Collegedale8.4
Tennessee16.6
U.S.15.5
66th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
82nd
percentile among TN towns
6
violent crimes reported in 2025
97
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Collegedale
Collegedale has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 89°, January nights drop to 31° and snow is almost unheard of.
89°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter32–52°
Spring48–72°
Summer67–88°
Fall49–73°
Nov 9
typical first frost
Mar 24
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
89°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
More than half of Collegedale’s working residents commute to Chattanooga
Jobs based here grew from 2,391 in 2013 to 3,253.
Most working residents leave Collegedale for work: only 4% work in town. Jobs based in Collegedale grew to 3,253 in 2023, 862 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Chattanooga (53%), Apison (5%) and Nashville (5%).
4%work in town
| Collegedale | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 19% | 9.5% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 14% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.8% | 12% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Collegedale4%
Chattanooga53%
Apison5%
Nashville5%
Cleveland4%
12 mi
median commute distance
3,253
jobs based in Collegedale
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 67% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Moderate risk in Collegedale, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 57% of U.S. communities. Since 2003, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Collegedale.
43risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesEarthquakes
2
paid flood claims since 2003
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Collegedale
19pages on Collegedale
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 59% of TN districts · 5 schoolsSafetyB+0.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than TN on 17 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$414K typical home · down 0.4% in a yearWork & commuteA−$70K median household income · 3,253 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 43% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
9 within 15 miles of the center of Collegedale
Southern Adventist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · CollegedaleIn town$27,300 tuitionChattanooga State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Chattanooga11.2 mi$4,772 in-state tuitionThe University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaUniversity or college · Public · Chattanooga14.3 mi$10,448 in-state tuition
College town 22 of every 100 Collegedale residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Tennessee.
Get outside
48 miles of trails in Collegedale
4.7% of the town is conserved land, across 8 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
About Collegedale
City in Tennessee, United States
Collegedale is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 11,109 at the 2020 census. Collegedale is a suburb of Chattanooga and is part of the Chattanooga, TN-GA Metropolitan Statistical Area. Collegedale is home to Southern Adventist University. The median household income is one of the highest in Hamilton County. It has been ranked as one of the best and safest places to live in Tennessee. The unincorporated community of Ooltewah is an enclave in Collegedale.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1916
- Area
- 12 sq mi
- Elevation
- 784 ft
- ZIP code
- 37315
- Area code
- 423
Collegedale’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Collegedale.
ApisonChattanoogaOoltewahCollegedale
How the neighbors grade
| Town | TN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collegedale | #31 | B+ | C− | B+ | B | A− |
| Apison | #32 | B+ | B | — | B | B |
| Chattanooga | #137 | D | C | D− | B | C |
| Ooltewah | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Apison reports no FBI crime data of its own. Ooltewah isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Collegedale with a neighbor →
Questions about Collegedale
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Collegedale, TN a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Collegedale grades B+ overall, better than 66% of U.S. towns and #31 of 175 in Tennessee. It grades A− for health, B+ for safety and B for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Collegedale, TN expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.