Battle of Missionary Ridge, 2012
East Ridge’s story
105 years in pictures
Census counts: 2,152 in 1930, 22,167 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2012.
- 1921East Ridge is incorporated
Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
21,921
2025 Census estimate · −1.1% since 2020
Typical home
$253K
−2.7% in a year
Household income
$62K
median
Median age
37.6
years
Jobs based here
5,519
A commuter town
TownGrade
C
#99 of 175 in TN
Is East Ridge a good place to live?
East Ridge is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades C overall, 99th among Tennessee's 175 graded towns, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is schools: its public schools beat 59% of Tennessee towns on state tests and graduation. Its lowest everyday mark is in safety: its police reported 91 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025, a higher rate per resident than 81% of U.S. towns. A typical home there costs about $253K, 3.5 years of the Chattanooga metro’s $72K median household income. On walkability, just 20 of Tennessee’s 292 towns do better. East Ridge's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 90% of U.S. towns. Only 29 of Tennessee’s 292 towns score lower on history.
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave East Ridge for work
Where East Ridge’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
5,519jobs based in East Ridge
5%of working residents work in town
7 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How East Ridge grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Tennessee), ordered by how far East Ridge is from typical.
SafetyC−Open →HealthParkridge Medical Center 3.4 miles awayCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.5 of 20; 6.1% of households have no car; 3.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →SchoolsBOpen →Jobs & income$62K median household incomeC+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 45% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB−Open →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors6 miles of trails; 4% conserved landB−Open →HistoryIncorporated 1921; 1 notable person born hereDOpen →Civic life1.3 library visits per resident; 2.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 28 attractions →Ruby Falls and 18 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around East Ridge. Close and well known come first.
7 mi WaterfallRuby Falls
13 mi MountainLookout Mountain2 mi Theme parkLake Winnepesaukah
5 mi MuseumTennessee Valley Railroad Museum24 mi CaveEllison's Cave
6 mi Zoo & aquariumTennessee AquariumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Ruby Falls: Oydman (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lookout Mountain: Teke, 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 East Ridge: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in East Ridge, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of Chattanooga12.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTennessee American WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressDay by addressTown 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 codes37412, 3741137412 98% · 37411 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 East Ridge.
East Ridge fares better on crime within Tennessee than nationally and looks healthier within Tennessee than nationally, but it has a long record of flood insurance claims.
OutdoorsB−
3.7% of East Ridge is conserved land
5.8 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves. At 0.7 miles per square mile, East Ridge’s trail density is against 0.2 in Tennessee’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns. The biggest place to walk is Camp Jordan Park, 213 acres with 1 miles of trail.
#16for trails in TN
| East Ridge | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.7% | 1.7% | 4.3% |
3.7%
conserved · 197 of 5,276 acres
5.8 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Audubon Acres | 2.7 mi | 70 |
| 2. Camp Jordan Park | 1 mi | 213 |
| 3. Camp Jordan Ultimate Fields 1-5 | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB
East Ridge’s grade for schools is a B
Its public schools are run by the Hamilton County school district. Two of its 6 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is East Ridge High School, with 867 students.
59%of TN districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Ridge Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 959 | C+ |
| East Ridge High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 867 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TN on state tests and graduation
SafetyC−
East Ridge’s grade for safety is a C−
At 37.1 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 69% of Tennessee’s graded towns. Reported crimes fell from 614 to 384 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
At 4.2 per 1,000 residents, East Ridge’s violent crime rate is above both the Tennessee town median (2.6) and the median of U.S. towns (1.6). East Ridge reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 81% report less.
19%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
| East Ridge | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.2 per 1,000 residents | 2.6 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 13.4 per 1,000 residents | 11.5 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
East Ridge4.2
Tennessee5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
East Ridge13.4
Tennessee16.6
U.S.15.5
19th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
31st
percentile among TN towns
91
violent crimes reported in 2025
293
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
More than half of East Ridge’s working residents commute to Chattanooga
Most working residents leave East Ridge for work: only 5% work in town. Since 2013, East Ridge has added 1,110 jobs, to 5,519 in 2023. East Ridge’s average trip to work is 21 minutes.
5%work in town
| East Ridge | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.3% | 12% | 8% |
| Work from home | 13% | 9.5% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 14% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In East Ridge5%
Chattanooga61%
Nashville4%
Cleveland2%
Knoxville2%
7 mi
median commute distance
5,519
jobs based in East Ridge
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 68% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthC
Residents of East Ridge are less healthy than 71% of U.S. towns
Within Tennessee it is healthier than 63% of the 176 graded towns: much of Tennessee scores lower on these measures.
East Ridge beats the Tennessee average on 0 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 14% of adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance in East Ridge.
29%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| East Ridge | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 12% | 8.1% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 29% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 77% | 78% | 79% |
31 measures vs. Tennessee
0 better30 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | East Ridge | TN |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 14% | 11.6% |
Parkridge Medical Center
3.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
63rd
percentile among TN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade B−
East Ridge’s grade for cost of living is a B−
58% of East Ridge households own their home. The typical East Ridge home is worth about $253,000, down 2.7% in a year, 23% below the Tennessee typical home.
$253KZillow home value
| East Ridge | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 58% | 66% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,147 a month | $944 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
East Ridge$253K
Tennessee$331K
−2.7%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in East Ridge
East Ridge has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in East Ridge is 90°F.
4″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter33–53°
Spring48–72°
Summer67–88°
Fall50–73°
Nov 9
typical first frost
Mar 24
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
An age mix much like Tennessee’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Tennessee average. 24% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 31% across Tennessee.
37.6median age · TN 38.9
| East Ridge | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 years | 40 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 20% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 24% | 23% | 29% |
East RidgeTennesseeUnited States
Ages · share of residents
20%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma14%
High school28%
Some college26%
Associate’s8%
Bachelor’s16%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.3 points. Across Tennessee, 50.9% of residents are women.
| East Ridge | TN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.3% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.8% | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.8% | 8.9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 20% | 13.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.7% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.3% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.6% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.4% | 6.7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 13.8% | 10% | 10.4% |
| High school | 28.3% | 31.2% | 26% |
| Some college | 25.5% | 19.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.2% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 15.8% | 19.4% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.5% | 11.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in East Ridge
483 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 96 properties have flooded more than once.
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 55% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 483 flood insurance claims have been paid out in East Ridge.
45risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesEarthquakes
483
paid flood claims since 1978
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about East Ridge
20pages on East Ridge
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 59% of TN districts · 6 schoolsSafetyC−4.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than TN on 0 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$253K typical home · down 2.7% in a yearWork & commuteC+$62K median household income · 5,519 jobs hereNatural hazardsB−FEMA risk higher than 45% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
7 within 15 miles of the center of East Ridge
Miller-Motte College-ChattanoogaUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Chattanooga3.7 miThe University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaUniversity or college · Public · Chattanooga5.3 mi$10,448 in-state tuitionChattanooga State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Chattanooga7.1 mi$4,772 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 East Ridge residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Tennessee.
About East Ridge
City in Tennessee, United States
East Ridge is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 22,167. East Ridge is bordered by Chattanooga to the west, north, and east, and the Georgia state line to the south. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name of the city comes from its location due east of Missionary Ridge. The Bachman Tubes beneath Missionary Ridge link East Ridge with downtown Chattanooga.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 8.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 778 ft
- Area code
- 423
East Ridge’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with East Ridge.
ChattanoogaLakeviewEast Ridge
How the neighbors grade
| Town | TN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Ridge | #99 | C | B− | C− | B | C |
| Chattanooga | #137 | D | C | D− | B | C |
Questions about East Ridge
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is East Ridge, TN a good place to live?
East Ridge grades C overall, better than 26% of U.S. towns and #99 of 175 in Tennessee. It grades C for health, C− for safety and B for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is East Ridge, TN expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.