The Town FilesVarnell, Georgia
City in Whitfield County · population 2,179 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $229,400
- Household income
- $86,100
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 36.1
Varnell is a city of 2,179 people in Whitfield County, Georgia. The median home is worth $229,400, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for families than 91% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 81% of Georgia towns, more upscale than 75% of Georgia towns.
How Varnell 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 Varnell is worth $229,400, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $86,100, which is more affordable than 75% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,216 a month. 91.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Varnell | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $229,400 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,216 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $86,100 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 91.4% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Varnell
| People | Varnell | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.4% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.9% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.7% | 88.0% |
Weather in Varnell
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 30.3°F. About 57.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 48 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 75 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Varnell since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 9.4 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 28 deaths and 355 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 12, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 24, 1992.
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 Varnell itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Towns near Varnell
- Cohutta, GA3.7 mi · 764 people · home $225,000
- Tunnel Hill, GA5.2 mi · 963 people · home $195,600
- Apison, TN7.6 mi · 4,428 people · home $459,000
- Ringgold, GA8.9 mi · 3,414 people · home $243,300
- Dalton, GA9.2 mi · 34,417 people · home $222,400
- Collegedale, TN11.5 mi · 11,109 people · home $365,100
- Indian Springs, GA11.7 mi · 2,336 people · home $235,100
- Eton, GA12.3 mi · 824 people · home $229,300
Varnell questions
Is Varnell, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Varnell scores better for retirees than 30% of Georgia towns and quieter than 50%. 8.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.1).
How much does a house cost in Varnell?
The median owner-occupied home in Varnell is valued at $229,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,100, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,216 a month.
What is the weather like in Varnell?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 30.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Varnell get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Varnell 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)