Whitwell is a city in Marion County, Tennessee, United States, approximately 24 miles northwest of Chattanooga. The population was 1,641 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code37397

Area code423

Living in Whitwell

Housing in Whitwell

$225K▲ 2.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Whitwell home is worth about $225,000, up 2.3% in a year, 33% below the Tennessee typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Whitwell

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Whitwell's police department reported only 2023 and 2024, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Whitwell 2.5

Tennessee 6

U.S. 3.6

Property crime per 1,000

Whitwell 12.5

Tennessee 20.7

U.S. 17.7

FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Whitwell

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Whitwell for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Chattanooga (35%), Jasper (11%) and South Pittsburg (5%). Half commute less than 17 miles.

Chattanooga

35%

Jasper

11%

South Pittsburg

Dunlap

4%Work in townlive and work in Whitwell 17 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 281Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Whitwell →

Health in Whitwell

Health Grade D

Healthier than 6% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Tennessee

12worse than TN

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 14 are too close to call.

Conditions 6▼ 6 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind 2▼ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

22.3%More older adults who have lost all their teethTN 14.6% · worse 12.4%More adults with COPDTN 8.6% · worse 9.2%More adults with heart diseaseTN 7% · worse

Care nearby

Erlanger Medical CenterChattanooga · 16.4 mi · ER

Chattanooga Hamilton County Health DepartmentChattanooga · 16.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Whitwell · CMS · HRSAHealth in Whitwell →

Natural hazards in Whitwell

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 70% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

1Does Whitwell flood?paid flood claims since 2020 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Whitwell

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Whitwell →

Climate in Whitwell

Full climate →

Whitwell has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 30°, and about 3 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

52° / 32°Winter

72° / 47°Spring

88° / 66°Summer

73° / 49°Fall

How much snow does Whitwell get?About 3 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 8, with the last in spring around Mar 26.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Whitwell →

Schools in Whitwell

All Whitwell schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Whitwell’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 80% of Tennessee’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictMarion CountySchools2

Whitwell Elementary A-Elementary · Grades PK–4 · 482 students Whitwell High School C+High · Grades 9–12 · 298 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within TN. Ratings are from neighbors.