The Town FilesDalton, Georgia
City in Whitfield County · population 34,417 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $222,400
- Household income
- $63,577
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 33.7
Dalton is a city of 34,417 people in Whitfield County, Georgia. The median home is worth $222,400, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 86% of Georgia towns, better for cycling than 80% of Georgia towns.
How Dalton 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 Dalton is worth $222,400, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $63,577, which is more affordable than 47% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $996 a month. 52.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dalton | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $222,400 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $996 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $63,577 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 52.4% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dalton
| People | Dalton | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.0% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.6% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 28.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 88.0% |
Weather in Dalton
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 0.7 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
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dalton since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 9.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 12, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 7, 1998.
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 Dalton itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Dalton
30 public schools with 18,093 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Whitfield County High School | 9-12 | 1,512 | 17.2 |
| Dalton High School | 9-12 | 1,379 | 16.2 |
| Dalton Jr. High School | 8-9 | 1,114 | 13.8 |
| Hammond Creek Middle School | 6-8 | 1,059 | 12.3 |
| Coahulla Creek High School | 9-12 | 1,021 | 18.2 |
| North Whitfield Middle School | 6-8 | 781 | 14.5 |
| City Park Elementary School | PK-5 | 715 | 11.3 |
| Brookwood Elementary School | PK-5 | 704 | 13.3 |
| Blue Ridge Elementary School | PK-5 | 634 | 11.3 |
| Eastbrook Middle School | 6-8 | 630 | 14.0 |
| Westwood Elementary School | PK-5 | 596 | 13.2 |
| Eastside Elementary School | PK-5 | 588 | 12.3 |
Towns near Dalton
- Chatsworth, GA10.6 mi · 4,874 people · home $205,900
- Ringgold, GA13.1 mi · 3,414 people · home $243,300
- Apison, TN16.5 mi · 4,428 people · home $459,000
- LaFayette, GA18.0 mi · 6,888 people · home $144,800
- Calhoun, GA18.7 mi · 16,949 people · home $251,000
- Fort Oglethorpe, GA19.2 mi · 10,423 people · home $199,700
- Chickamauga, GA19.4 mi · 2,917 people · home $269,100
- Collegedale, TN20.2 mi · 11,109 people · home $365,100
Dalton questions
Is Dalton, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dalton scores better for retirees than 10% of Georgia towns and quieter than 12%. 13.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.7).
How much does a house cost in Dalton?
The median owner-occupied home in Dalton is valued at $222,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,577, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $996 a month.
What is the weather like in Dalton?
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 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Dalton get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dalton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. 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)