The Town FilesEast Ridge, Tennessee
City in Hamilton County · population 22,167 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $211,100
- Household income
- $62,247
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 37.6
East Ridge is a city of 22,167 people in Hamilton County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $211,100, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more vibrant than 100% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 99% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 97% of Tennessee towns.
How East Ridge ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in East Ridge is worth $211,100, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $62,247, which is more affordable than 64% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,147 a month. 57.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | East Ridge | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $211,100 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,147 | $863 |
| Median household income | $62,247 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.5% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in East Ridge
| People | East Ridge | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 88.2% |
Weather in East Ridge
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 32.4°F. About 55.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.6 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East Ridge since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 7.9 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 159 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 12, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 7, 1985.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 17, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4792: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 221,207 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,004 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in East Ridge itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Towns near East Ridge
- Lakeview, GA2.0 mi · 4,777 people · home $171,700
- Rossville, GA3.8 mi · 3,980 people · home $133,000
- Fort Oglethorpe, GA4.6 mi · 10,423 people · home $199,700
- Chattanooga, TN4.9 mi · 181,099 people · home $283,200
- Fairview, GA6.0 mi · 6,409 people · home $183,600
- Chattanooga Valley, GA8.2 mi · 3,962 people · home $205,300
- Ringgold, GA8.4 mi · 3,414 people · home $243,300
- Red Bank, TN8.8 mi · 11,899 people · home $269,400
East Ridge questions
Is East Ridge, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, East Ridge scores better for retirees than 24% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 5%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in East Ridge?
The median owner-occupied home in East Ridge is valued at $211,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,247, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,147 a month.
What is the weather like in East Ridge?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 32.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.0 inches of precipitation a year and 3.6 inches of snow.
Does East Ridge get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East Ridge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)