Whitwell, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Whitwell, Tennessee had a total population of 2,052, the 214th largest city in Tennessee, with a median household income of $67,774, which is 3% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 9.7%.
Key Takeaways
- Only 8.4% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x.
Whitwell Quick Facts
How Whitwell Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,798 | 2,052 | No clear change (+14.1%) |
| Median household income | $52,584 | $67,774 | No clear change (+28.9%) |
| Median home value¹ | $104,118 | $140,500 | No clear change (+34.9%) |
| Median gross rent | $877 | $872 | No clear change (-0.6%) |
How Whitwell Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 87.2%
- Black: 0.8%
- Hispanic: 9.3%
- Asian: 0.3%
- Other: 0.0%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 46 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 17.6%
- HS Diploma: 56.5%
- Some College: 10.9%
- Associate's: 6.5%
- Bachelor's: 5.2%
- Graduate+: 3.2%
Whitwell Rankings in Tennessee
Explore Tennessee Rankings
Other Cities in Marion County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper | 3,612 | $73,013 | 10.1% | $209,000 |
| South Pittsburg | 3,013 | $57,865 | 21.8% | $187,100 |
| Kimball | 1,639 | $60,543 | 6.9% | $231,400 |
| Powells Crossroads | 1,498 | $67,549 | 4.5% | $187,800 |
| New Hope | 862 | $77,727 | 23.0% | $179,600 |
| Griffith Creek | 586 | N/A | 21.0% | N/A |
| Sequatchie | 359 | $27,679 | 49.0% | N/A |
| Orme | 76 | $47,500 | 28.9% | $53,300 |
| Whiteside | 33 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Whitwell
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Johnsonville | 2,060 | $78,661 | $158,400 | 11.4% | 10.9% |
| Burns | 1,884 | $69,167 | $286,400 | 21.8% | 9.2% |
| Monteagle | 1,926 | $63,438 | $309,500 | 33.2% | 13.0% |
| Dover | 1,956 | $75,190 | $203,500 | 25.0% | 7.0% |
| Caryville | 2,073 | $56,394 | $200,500 | 10.9% | 18.4% |
Population Overview
Whitwell is a small community located in Tennessee, within Marion County. The total population is 2,052. It ranks as the 214th most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.
Age Demographics
The median age in Whitwell is 44.5 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Whitwell is $67,774. This is 3% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.7%. This is 30% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 3% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $140,500. Housing costs are 51% lower than the state median of $286,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Whitwell is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 66.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Whitwell has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.3%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 15.4%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.9%.
Education
8.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 73% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Whitwell, Tennessee is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Tennessee state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Whitwell, Tennessee?
Whitwell, Tennessee has a population of 2,052 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Whitwell, TN?
The median household income in Whitwell is $67,774, which is 16% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Whitwell, TN?
The poverty rate in Whitwell is 9.7%. This means approximately 198 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Whitwell, Tennessee?
Whitwell's population is 87.2% White, 0.8% Black, 9.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.3% Asian.
What is the median home value in Whitwell, TN?
The median home value in Whitwell is $140,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.1x.
How educated is Whitwell, Tennessee?
8.4% of adults (25+) in Whitwell hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.