CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

35.19° N · 85.20° W · GEOID 4748360

Middle Valley

Hamilton County, Tennessee · part of the Chattanooga, TN metro

TennesseeMiddle Valley, TNMiddle ValleyMiddle Valley

The short answer

Middle Valley is home to 12,187 people. Median household income is $95,000 a year and median rent is $1,180 a month, 14.9% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $319,400, about 3.4x annual median household income.

Middle Valley is defined by its growth. Home value growth is 13.2% a year, against 8.3% a year in its closest peers. Also notable: 19% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a lower share than in 99% of places its size. It is the lowest of 106 Tennessee places we track.

64OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Above average

Middle Valley scores better than 64% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 26th of 112 in Tennessee.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%77
Economy 20%67
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%15
Education 10%47
Commute 10%54
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,180
14% below the median place
Median household income
$95,000
18% above the median place
Median home value
$319,400
0% above the median place
Unemployment
4.0%
18% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Middle Valley

  • HousingHomeowners pay a median of about 0.5% of home value a year in property tax, less than in 93% of the 2,101 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
  • AffordabilityThe median rent takes 14.9% of the median household's income, a smaller share than in 90% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Middle Valley

Hamilton County gains about 8.5 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in17,907
Moved out15,363
Net+2,544

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Catoosa County, GA1,0121,358−346
Bradley County, TN1,0841,245−161
Walker County, GA754984−230
Marion County, TN246308−62

Within Tennessee, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within TennesseeOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$76K
Leavers$69K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Hamilton County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
3.8% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 3.3% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Hamilton County report $76,200 a year in income on average; those leaving, $68,700, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$47,200 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,180 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,448 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $319,400.
Getting to work
24 minutes each way on average; 18.8% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Oakville, MO matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
3.8%
33% below the median place
Moved from another state1
3.3%
67% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people6
8.5
above the median place (median -0.6)
All 5 moving measures
MeasureMiddle ValleyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year13.8%33% below
Moved from another state13.3%67% above
Net movers per 1,000 people6County figure8.5above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in6County figure$76,1588% above
Income of households moving out6County figure$68,6502% below
02

What it costs to live here

Rent is light relative to pay, but the county has a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 93 out of 100. Budget for insurance before counting the savings.

Middle Valley14.9%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$47,200
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
14.9%
27% below the median place
Home price to income
3.4x
12% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
15%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$85,500
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Middle Valley, $1,180 a month, and local prices for everything else (94.5 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Middle Valley, but easier on the budget

Places that match Middle Valley on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Oakville, MO9312.3% vs 14.9%$9,300Compare
Spotswood, NJ9112.3% vs 14.9%$2,000Compare
Bright, IN909.6% vs 14.9%$16,100Compare
Waterloo, IL9010.8% vs 14.9%$4,000Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Middle Valley.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Middle Valley? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Renters paying 30%+1
19.4%
62% below the median place
Property tax rate1
0.5%
51% below the median place
Property tax paid (median)1
$1,447
56% below the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureMiddle ValleyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,18014% below
Rent to income114.9%27% below
Property tax rate10.5%51% below
Home price to income13.4x12% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure91.59% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,34017% below
Property tax paid (median)1$1,44756% below
Median home value1$319,4000% above
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure1.8%45% below
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure63.3%23% above
Homeownership183.7%26% above
Renters paying 30%+119.4%62% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,44823% below
Vacant homes1County figure8.2%17% above
Median year built119800% above
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Poverty rate1
5.0%
53% below the median place
Works from home1
18.8%
51% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Income per person$51,778 +29%
Unemployment4.0% −18%
Median household income$95,000 +18%
Mean commute24 min −2%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureMiddle ValleyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$95,00018% above
Income per person1$51,77829% above
Unemployment14.0%18% below
Average annual pay5County figure$69,2535% above
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure4.9%32% above
Jobs5County figure219,58046% above
Poverty rate15.0%53% below
Mean commute124 min2% below
Works from home118.8%51% above
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Median age is 45.4, 16% above the median place.

Median age1
45.4
16% above the median place
No health insurance1
11.0%
72% above the median place
Born abroad1
3.9%
56% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

High school or higher88.1% −5%
Homes with broadband94.0% +2%
Bachelor's or higher30.8% −4%
Household size2.5 +0%
All 8 people measures
MeasureMiddle ValleyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population112,1873553rd largest
Median age145.416% above
Bachelor's or higher130.8%4% below
High school or higher188.1%5% below
Household size12.50% above
Born abroad13.9%56% below
No health insurance111.0%72% above
Homes with broadband194.0%2% above
05

Life in Middle Valley

OpenStreetMap shows 0.8 parks per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 97% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

112 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents0.8 −92%
Playgrounds per 10k11.5 +22%
Grocery stores per 10k3.3 +55%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k1.6 −85%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park 18 miles
  • Russell Cave National Monument 38 miles
  • Little River Canyon National Preserve 56 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars22.8 +10%
Shops38.3 +26%
Arts, recreation and fitness4.4 +7%
Doctors' offices and clinics24.0 +19%
Child care centers1.8 −22%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site9
17.5
43% below the median place
Shops per 10k7
38.3
26% above the median place
Public schools11
82
above the median place (median 9)
All 17 schools and local life measures
MeasureMiddle ValleyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools11County figure82above (median 9)
Public school students11County figure45,981above (median 4,897)
Restaurants and bars per 10k7County figure22.810% above
Shops per 10k7County figure38.326% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k7County figure4.47% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k7County figure24.019% above
Child care centers per 10k7County figure1.822% below
Parks per 10k80.892% below
Playgrounds per 10k811.522% above
Grocery stores per 10k83.355% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k81.685% below
Libraries per 10k80.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails80.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi80.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site917.543% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles9350% above
National Register listings10County figure112above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

Annual precipitation is 57.1 in, 30% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Middle Valley. Larger places are fetched first.

Annual precipitation12
57.1 in
30% above the median place
Tornado risk13
98.6
21% above the median place
Heat wave risk13
75.6
16% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureMiddle ValleyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high12County figure88°F2% above
January average low12County figure30°F20% above
Average temperature12County figure60°F9% above
Annual precipitation12County figure57.1 in30% above
Natural hazard risk13County figure93.31% above
Hurricane risk13County figure62.511% below
Tornado risk13County figure98.621% above
Wildfire risk13County figure70.615% above
Heat wave risk13County figure75.616% below
Median air quality index14County figure442% above
Good air days14County figure64.9%5% below
08

Middle Valley in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 15% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 15% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Middle Valley does better than 74% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 93%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,180/mo (2024)$1,530/mo$1,250 to $1,860/mo+4.4%
Median household income$95,000 (2024)$121,500$102,500 to $144,000+4.2%
Median home value$319,400 (2024)$479,000$348,000 to $660,000+7.0%

The median home would be worth 3.9 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.4 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Middle Valley

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Green Hill, TN$1,296$91,818Compare
Caledonia, WI$1,141$93,152Compare
Salem Lakes, WI$1,184$94,819Compare
Manteno, IL$1,141$97,634Compare
Manteno, ILSalem Lakes, WICaledonia, WIGreen Hill, TNMiddle Valley, TNMiddle ValleyGreen HillCaledoniaSalem LakesMantenoMiddle ValleyGreen HillCaledoniaSalem LakesManteno

Places built like Middle Valley

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Middle Valley performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Middle Valley, TN14.9%6.6%/yrn/a
Oakbrook, KY21.1%2.9%/yrn/aCompare
Kingston, TN12.0%4.5%/yr3.5%Compare
Green Hill, TN16.9%0.1%/yrn/aCompare
Middletown, PA19.0%4.6%/yrn/aCompare
North Valley, NM17.4%2.7%/yrn/aCompare
Santa Clara, OR23.2%6.0%/yrn/aCompare

Common questions

Is Middle Valley a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 64 out of 100, better than 64% of the places we rate and 26th of 112 in Tennessee. Homeowners pay a median of about 0.5% of home value a year in property tax, less than in 93% of the 2,101 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. The median rent takes 14.9% of the median household's income, a smaller share than in 90% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 93 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Middle Valley expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 14.9% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $319,400.

What salary do you need to live in Middle Valley?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $47,200 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Middle Valley?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Green Hill, TN, Caledonia, WI, Salem Lakes, WI and Manteno, IL.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  7. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  8. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  9. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  10. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  11. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  12. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  13. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  14. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Middle Valley with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Middle Valley itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/middle-valley-tennessee

Citytistics. “Middle Valley, Tennessee.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/middle-valley-tennessee/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.