The Town FilesOoltewah, Tennessee
Community in Hamilton County · population 684 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $240,900
- Household income
- $62,292
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 57.2
Ooltewah is a community of 684 people in Hamilton County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $240,900, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Tennessee towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Tennessee towns, more upscale than 89% of Tennessee towns.
How Ooltewah ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ooltewah is worth $240,900, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $62,292, which is more affordable than 42% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,717 a month. 63.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ooltewah | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $240,900 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,717 | $863 |
| Median household income | $62,292 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.7% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.7% | — |
Who lives in Ooltewah
| People | Ooltewah | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.2 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.7% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.1% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 16.0% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.5% | 88.2% |
Weather in Ooltewah
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 32.4°F. About 55.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.6 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ooltewah since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 4.5 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 29 deaths and 535 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 12, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on April 28, 1964.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 17, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4792: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 221,207 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,004 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Ooltewah itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Ooltewah
8 public schools with 6,460 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ooltewah High School | 9-12 | 1,275 | 17.0 |
| East Hamilton High School | 9-12 | 1,263 | 19.1 |
| Ooltewah Elementary School | PK-5 | 851 | 17.0 |
| Hunter Middle School | 6-8 | 697 | 16.6 |
| Snow Hill Elementary School | PK-5 | 637 | 15.9 |
| Wolftever Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | 620 | 14.1 |
| Wallace A. Smith Elementary School | PK-5 | 592 | 16.0 |
| Ooltewah Middle School | 6-8 | 525 | 14.6 |
Towns near Ooltewah
- Collegedale, TN1.4 mi · 11,109 people · home $365,100
- McDonald, TN4.7 mi · 586 people · home $214,100
- Apison, TN5.3 mi · 4,428 people · home $459,000
- Harrison, TN6.4 mi · 7,902 people · home $307,400
- South Cleveland, TN8.6 mi · 7,673 people · home $232,600
- Cohutta, GA9.5 mi · 764 people · home $225,000
- Indian Springs, GA9.7 mi · 2,336 people · home $235,100
- Lakesite, TN10.3 mi · 1,856 people · home $332,200
Ooltewah questions
Is Ooltewah, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ooltewah scores better for retirees than 99% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 30%. 36.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.2).
How much does a house cost in Ooltewah?
The median owner-occupied home in Ooltewah is valued at $240,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,292, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,717 a month.
What is the weather like in Ooltewah?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 32.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.0 inches of precipitation a year and 3.6 inches of snow.
Does Ooltewah get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ooltewah since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- 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)