Chattanooga or Nashville? Has anyone lived in both places?

[McMar]

Bluebird, it usually gets down into the 70's in Chattanooga during the summer nights. Occasionally it's still 80 or so, but it's nothing like the Dallas nights. My sister and parents live in the D/FW area, and what you guys experience (100 degrees at midnight) is much worse that it is here. The humidity does take some getting used to, but the nights do offer some relief. Summers vary. We had several summers in the past few decade in which only a dozen or fewer days even surpassed 90 degrees. However, last summer we had something like 18 days over 100 degrees and a the worst drought in recorded history. I think we're in for a hot one this year, as this week is already feeling like August!

[Bluebird9872]

Originally Posted by McMar

Bluebird, it usually gets down into the 70's in Chattanooga during the summer nights. Occasionally it's still 80 or so, but it's nothing like the Dallas nights. My sister and parents live in the D/FW area, and what you guys experience (100 degrees at midnight) is much worse that it is here. The humidity does take some getting used to, but the nights do offer some relief. Summers vary. We had several summers in the past few decade in which only a dozen or fewer days even surpassed 90 degrees. However, last summer we had something like 18 days over 100 degrees and a the worst drought in recorded history. I think we're in for a hot one this year, as this week is already feeling like August!

Thanks McMar....It takes someone else actually knowing how bad it is here to get a good comparision. I have had 10 years of this climate and I am READY to move!

[12buttons]

Originally Posted by chattamom

Mary, I would strongly suggest you visit here before committing to any move. Yes, it's a beautiful area, with a low cost of living. However, we pay the price in our school system, which is downright awful. Hamilton County suffers from huge budget problems, overcrowded classrooms, underpaid teachers, the list goes on and on. The schools on Signal Mountain are good, and some of the elementary schools (Lookout Mtn, Westview, Big Ridge, a few others including some of the magnet schools) are good. However, most of the middle and high schools are NOT. There are gang problems, fights, drugs, major discipline issues. I have several friends who moved here from New England- one from CT and one from MA- and both were shocked by the poor quality of the schools here.
Here's a recent news story about the budget:
Tennessee's Budget Cuts Likely to Impact Hamilton County Schools Harshly | WDEF News 12 | News, Weather and Sports for Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley

Another factor to consider: our hot, muggy summers. Basically, 4 months of the year we have highs into the 90's for weeks on end and no relief in sight. Now, if you love hot, muggy weather, you will love it here. But if you prefer mild New England summers, you're going to be in for a huge shock. Of course, the flip side is that winters are relatively mild, with just the occasional snowfall here and there (whereupon the entire town shuts down because nobody knows how to drive in it!) Fall here is absolutely beautiful, and not unlike New England, with all the leaves changing (though it happens about 6 weeks later here in than in VT.)

Crime is also a much bigger problem here than anywhere in Vermont. I felt safe walking all over downtown Burlington, but there are many parts of Chattanooga I would never set foot in (or drive in). In fact, Chattanooga has one of the highest crime rates in the country for a city of its size. There are, of course, safer suburban neighborhoods outside the city limits. Here's a brief article on crime in Chattanooga:
Top Stories: Chattanooga is 59th, Cleveland 53rd when it comes to Violent Crime | crime, chattanooga, ranks - www.newschannel9.com
Now, if you're coming from a big city like LA, you would probably feel comparatively safe in Chattanooga. But compared to VT...well, the numbers tell the story.

Anyway, don't mean to burst your bubble- I just don't want you to be in for a shock. And I happen to love New England- I'd move there in a heartbeat if I could possibly ever afford it!

you obviously never spent a summer in Fairfield CT - hot muggy? you bet it is! I spent quite a few summers there...Maine maybe, but not along the sound in CT...hot and sticky...

[12buttons]

Originally Posted by Mary77

Well, it sounds like as long as we live somewhere like Signal Mountain or Soddy Daisy and just visit the safer parts of Chattanooga for entertainment occasionally, then we would probably be pretty happy there. We really have our heart set on that area. I think Chattamom was saying that the humidity is awful relative to New England where I live. But I'm really comparing it to the 90-100 degree heat and humidity that I grew up in down in Florida. The New England summers are nice and cool but that has it's down side also. Last summer my kids and I crossed our fingers everyday hoping that the temperature would get high enough to go swimming. I think we only got to go five or six times. That was a drag.

JMT-I know you are a big Knoxville promoter. How does the crime rate in Knoxville compare to Chattanooga?

idon't know what part of NE you're from - CT by the SOUND is hot and muggy..I lived there