The Town FilesTunnel Hill, Georgia
City in Whitfield County · population 963 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $195,600
- Household income
- $56,536
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 47.7
Tunnel Hill is a city of 963 people in Whitfield County, Georgia. The median home is worth $195,600, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for families than 94% of Georgia towns, more of a college town than 89% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 82% of Georgia towns.
How Tunnel Hill ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Tunnel Hill is worth $195,600, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $56,536, which is more affordable than 47% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $939 a month. 72.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tunnel Hill | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $195,600 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $939 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $56,536 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 72.4% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Tunnel Hill
| People | Tunnel Hill | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.3% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.6% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 88.0% |
Weather in Tunnel Hill
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 28.9°F. About 56.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 84 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tunnel Hill since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 9.1 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 16 deaths and 131 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 24, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 7, 1985.
Severe weather in Whitfield County since 1996
Whitfield County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Whitfield County
Whitfield County had 57,828 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,855 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Tunnel Hill itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Tunnel Hill
3 public schools with 1,867 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Whitfield County High School | 9-12 | 1,130 | 15.5 |
| Tiger Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | 434 | 11.7 |
| Tunnel Hill Elementary School | K-5 | 303 | 13.2 |
Towns near Tunnel Hill
- Varnell, GA5.2 mi · 2,179 people · home $229,400
- Ringgold, GA6.3 mi · 3,414 people · home $243,300
- Dalton, GA7.1 mi · 34,417 people · home $222,400
- Cohutta, GA7.9 mi · 764 people · home $225,000
- Indian Springs, GA10.0 mi · 2,336 people · home $235,100
- Apison, TN10.4 mi · 4,428 people · home $459,000
- Rock Spring, GA11.8 mi · 891 people · home $218,000
- Fort Oglethorpe, GA13.0 mi · 10,423 people · home $199,700
Tunnel Hill questions
Is Tunnel Hill, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tunnel Hill scores better for retirees than 82% of Georgia towns and quieter than 66%. 31.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.7).
How much does a house cost in Tunnel Hill?
The median owner-occupied home in Tunnel Hill is valued at $195,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,536, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $939 a month.
What is the weather like in Tunnel Hill?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 28.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Tunnel Hill get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tunnel Hill since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- 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)