Whitfield County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Whitfield County, Georgia had an estimated 105,070 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 102,873, across 290 square miles. County output reached $7.75 bn in 2024, 2,373 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 57 7(a) approvals worth $50.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Whitfield County
How many people live in Whitfield County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024103,598
- Households36,834
- Average household size2.81
- Median household income$67,070
- Median age36.6
- Median gross rent$971 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$218,000
- Home value to household income3.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher20.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over67,893
- Population under 1825,747
- Share under 1824.9 percent
- Population 65 and over15,483
- Share 65 and over14.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6462,368
- Civilian labor force50,993
- Unemployment rate5.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over65.5 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties25th of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included603rd of 3,222
Whitfield County is the 25th largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 3.3 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.9 percent against 14.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Whitfield County
Is Whitfield County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024105,070
- Census 2020 base population102,873
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.14 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024923
- Births, 20241,184
- Deaths, 2024980
- Natural change, 2024204
- Net domestic migration, 202468
- Net international migration, 2024644
- Total net migration, 2024712
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024197
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1120th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.14 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Whitfield County
Where are people moving to Whitfield County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,078
- People arriving, from those returns4,090
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,971
- Net household movement107
- Adjusted gross income arriving$108.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-10.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$52,283
- Average income of a leaving household$60,172
- Largest single originMurray County (379 households)
- Largest single destinationMurray County (406 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murray County | 379 | 805 | $14.7 m |
| Catoosa County | 202 | 425 | $9.6 m |
| Hamilton County | 196 | 368 | $13.1 m |
| Gordon County | 159 | 334 | $7.8 m |
| Walker County | 82 | 155 | $4.2 m |
| Bradley County | 48 | 110 | $1.8 m |
| Cobb County | 44 | 83 | $2.5 m |
| Bartow County | 43 | 81 | $1.9 m |
Households arriving report $7,889 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Murray County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Whitfield County
What is the Whitfield County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$7.75 bn
- County GDP, 2023$7.25 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.9 percent
- GDP change over five years34.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes20th of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes544th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$74,774
Output grew 6.9 percent in the latest year and 34.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Whitfield County
Employment by industry in Whitfield County
- Covered employment, annual average57,828
- Establishments reporting2,734
- Average annual pay$54,855
- Average weekly wage$1,055
- Manufacturing, employment18,994
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$54,305
- Health care and social assistance, employment6,032
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$69,284
- Retail trade, employment5,152
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,576
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment4,067
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$80,846
- Accommodation and food services, employment3,536
- Wholesale trade, employment3,317
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 18,994 | 304 | $54,305 |
| Health care and social assistance | 6,032 | 200 | $69,284 |
| Retail trade | 5,152 | 438 | $35,576 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 4,067 | 244 | $80,846 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,536 | 218 | $21,591 |
| Wholesale trade | 3,317 | 189 | $61,651 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3,225 | 122 | $59,278 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 3,111 | 123 | $35,100 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 18,994 jobs, 32.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Whitfield County
How many businesses are in Whitfield County?
- Establishments, all industries2,373
- Employment at those establishments55,064
- Annual payroll$2.86 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.9
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Whitfield County
Building permits in Whitfield County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024374
- Declared construction value permitted$56.1 m
- Single family units authorized270
- Multifamily units authorized104
- Multifamily share of units27.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$149,978
- Units authorized per 1,000 households10.2
Single-family homes are 72.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Whitfield County
SBA loans in Whitfield County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded57
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$50.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$891,747
- Median 7(a) approval$493,500
- 10th percentile approval$65,320
- 90th percentile approval$2,199,200
- Largest single approval$4,845,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)844
- Jobs per approval14.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active25
- Distinct industries receiving approvals42
- Median 7(a) term124 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer45.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms26
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter27
- Franchise loans13
- Franchise share of approvals22.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGasoline Stations with Convenience Stores (6)
- Most active lenderBuiltwell Bank (16)
- 504 approvals recorded18
- 504 gross approval dollars$16.6 m
- Average 504 approval$924,000
- Median 504 approval$857,000
- Distinct CDCs active8
- 504 jobs per approval13.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.3
- Most active CDCCapital Partners Certified Development Company (8)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$67.5 m
The average approval of $891,747 sits well above the median of $493,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 45.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Whitfield County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Whitfield County
Do SBA loans in Whitfield County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded15
- Paid in full15
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure33
- Status: Cancelled7
- Status: Paid in full15
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 15 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Whitfield County
SBA lending by place in Whitfield County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Dalton, approvals46
- Cohutta, approvals6
- Tunnel Hill, approvals3
- Rocky Face, approvals1
- Resaca, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Dalton | 46 | $45,465,200 |
| Cohutta | 6 | $4,098,300 |
| Tunnel Hill | 3 | $652,300 |
| Rocky Face | 1 | $463,800 |
| Resaca | 1 | $150,000 |
Dalton accounts for 46 approvals against 6 in Cohutta. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Whitfield County
How large is Whitfield County?
- Land area290 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties100th of 159
- Width, east to west20.3 mi
- Height, north to south25.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land357
- Establishments per square mile8.18
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Whitfield County
Flood risk in Whitfield County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Whitfield County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 130193
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Whitfield County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Whitfield County (community 130193), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Whitfield County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Whitfield County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Whitfield County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024103,598
- Households36,834
- Average household size2.81
- Median household income$67,070
- Median age36.6
Common questions
Whitfield County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Whitfield County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 105,070 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 103,598, in 36,834 households, ranking 25th of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Whitfield County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.14 percent since the 2020 census base of 102,873, to 105,070 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,184 births against 980 deaths, with net migration of 712. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Whitfield County?
$67,070. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $218,000, which is 3.3 times income, and median gross rent is $971 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Whitfield County?
2,373 establishments, employing 55,064 people with an annual payroll of $2.86 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Whitfield County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 18,994 jobs, 32.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 57,828 jobs at an average annual pay of $54,855, or $1,055 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Whitfield County?
57 7(a) approvals totaling $50.8 m since FY2020, across 25 lenders, with a median approval of $493,500, plus 18 504 approvals worth $16.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Whitfield County?
374 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $56.1 m. Multifamily was 27.8 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Whitfield County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Whitfield County come from?
The largest single origin is Murray County, with 379 households. Arriving households report an average income of $52,283 against $60,172 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Whitfield County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Whitfield County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Whitfield County
Cities and places in Whitfield.
4 Census places lie wholly or partly in Whitfield County. All 4 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton | city | 34,538 | 46 | Wholly in this county |
| Varnell | city | 2,920 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tunnel Hill | city | 939 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Cohutta | city | 930 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 57 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Whitfield County, the largest being Rocky Face (1), Resaca (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
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