County · Georgia
Whitfield County, Georgia
Whitfield County, Georgia. Whitfield County had 106,212 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.2% since 2020, slower than Georgia (+5.5%). It holds 4 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs) and 22 census tracts. GEOID 13313.
Whitfield County is one of the 2 counties of the Dalton, GA metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
106,212
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 102,864 · ACS 2020-2024: 103,598
Median household income
$67,070
±$2,731 (90% margin)
Georgia: $77,353
Median home value
$218,000
±$7,598 (90% margin)
Georgia: $303,300
Median gross rent
$971
±$30 (90% margin)
Georgia: $1,393
How many people live in Whitfield County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 102,864 residents in Whitfield County. The Census Bureau estimates 106,212 for July 1, 2025, up 3.2% since 2020, slower than Georgia (+5.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 103,598 over 290 square miles of land.
| Measure | Whitfield County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 103,598 | 10,940,407 | −639 |
| Households | 36,834±474 | 4,074,366 | +1,205 |
| Average household size | 2.78±0.04 | 2.62 | −0.10 |
| Housing units | 39,806±42 | 4,541,835 | −233 |
Whitfield County's population since 2000
From 83,525 in 2000 to 106,212 in 2025: up 27.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Whitfield County?
Whitfield County holds 4 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Dalton with 35,322 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Dalton | 34,417 | $63,577 |
|---|---|---|
| Varnell | 2,179 | $86,100 |
| Tunnel Hill | 963 | $56,536 |
| Cohutta | 764 | $75,781 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Whitfield County?
The median resident of Whitfield County is 36.6 years old; 24.9% are under 18 and 14.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 55.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 37.2%. 18.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Whitfield County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6±0.3 | 37.6 | +0.6 |
| Under 18 years | 24.9%±0.2 pts | 23.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.9%±0.1 pts | 15.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 37.2% | 11.0% | +2.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 55.5%±0.4 pts | 49.1% | −2.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.4%±0.3 pts | 30.7% | −0.4 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.4%±0.2 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3%±0.6 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 18.5%±1.0 pts | 11.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 31.5%±1.4 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.5%±0.6 pts | 7.2% | – |
| With a disability | 12.2%±1.0 pts | 13.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 18.1%±1.5 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 75.6%±1.6 pts | 89.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.2%±1.6 pts | 34.9% | +4.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.9%±1.0 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6%±0.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Whitfield County earn?
Half of Whitfield County's 36,834 households earn less than $67,070 a year (±$2,731), against $77,353 in Georgia. In 2015-2019 the median was $59,840 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $7,230 after inflation. 14.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Whitfield County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $67,070±$2,731 | $77,353 | +$7,230 |
| Mean household income | $87,834±$3,692 | $106,944 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,618±$1,249 | $40,924 | +$2,113 |
| People below the poverty line | 14.8%±1.8 pts | 13.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 23.8%±4.1 pts | 18.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.2%±1.5 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.3%±1.4 pts | 91.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Whitfield County?
Owners occupy 67.0% of Whitfield County's occupied homes and renters 33.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $218,000 by its owner (±$7,598). The median renter pays $971 a month including utilities, and 36.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Whitfield County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $218,000±$7,598 | $303,300 | +$53,825 |
| Median gross rent | $971±$30 | $1,393 | +$85 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.3%±4.1 pts | 43.4% | +7.9 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,351±$57 | $1,783 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.0%±1.7 pts | 65.7% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 39,806±42 | 4,541,835 | −233 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0%±0.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.9%±1.5 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 65.3%±2.0 pts | 66.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 13.0%±1.2 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1%±0.4 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.5%±1.1 pts | 3.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Whitfield County building?
Builders took permits for 409 new housing units across Whitfield County in 2025 (297 single-family), 3.9 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Whitfield County get to work?
82.3% of Whitfield County's workers drive alone and 4.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.2%.
| Measure | Whitfield County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.0%±1.4 pts | 63.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2%±1.0 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 82.3%±1.8 pts | 70.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.9%±1.6 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.6%±0.9 pts | 15.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.8 min±0.7 | 28.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Whitfield County's census tracts?
Whitfield County is divided into 22 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $43,297 (Tract 15) to $121,817 (Tract 9).
All 22 census tracts of Whitfield County, with their figures
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Whitfield County compare with Georgia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 25th of 159 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 77th of 159 |
| Residents per square mile | 24th of 159 |
| Median household income | 52nd of 159 |
| Median home value | 58th of 159 |
| Median gross rent | 57th of 157 |
| Poverty rate | 101st of 159 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 70th of 159 |
| Median age | 133rd of 159 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Whitfield County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.