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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
In a recently published white paper, the University of Tennessee Chattanooga’s Center for Regional and Economic Research (CRER) reports a large influx of residents moving from California to Chattanooga.
Summarizing the geographic pattern of domestic migration in and out of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) over four years, from 2021 to 2025, the paper states that about 86,000 people moved into the MSA and 69,000 moved out, a net migration of 17,000 people.
Of these 17,000, more than one-third moved to Chattanooga from somewhere else in the state, and about one in eight new residents came from California.
Chattanooga also saw many moving to the city from Illinois. More than half of the 17,000 net migrants moved to the city either from California or Illinois.
Census Bureau data shows that Chattanooga’s population grew at twice the national rate during 2020 to 2025.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
