The Town Files

White County, Tennessee

28,160 people. The median home is worth $207,200 (typical Tennessee town: $204,650) and the median household earns $52,188.

Towns in White County

Towns in White County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Sparta4,998$217,000$50,08046.8

People and housing

White CountyTypical Tennessee town
Median home value$207,200$204,650
Median rent$849$863
Median household income$52,188$57,917
Median age43.540.8
Bachelor's degree or higher15.1%18.2%
Below the poverty line13.2%14.2%

Jobs and pay

7,157 jobs in 2024, average pay $45,063 a year.

Largest industries in White CountyManufacturing1,858 jobs · $53,407Retail938 jobs · $33,608Health care & social assistan…623 jobs · $42,330Administrative & support462 jobs · $27,048Transportation & warehousing434 jobs · $59,287Wholesale trade247 jobs · $70,336
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in White County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 353 storm events in White County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in White County by type since 1996Hail41Flood9Drought42Tornado12High Wind3Heavy Snow8Flash Flood21Strong Wind4Winter Storm13Winter Weather45
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

White County has been included in 18 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
February 6, 2026Winter StormDR-4898: Severe Winter Storm
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3635: Severe Winter Storm
April 2, 2025Severe StormEM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
May 17, 2023Severe StormDR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado
April 2, 2020BiologicalDR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3473: Covid-19
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).