The Town FilesDunlap, Tennessee
City in Sequatchie County · population 5,357 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $192,100
- Household income
- $45,589
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 41.2
Dunlap is a city of 5,357 people in Sequatchie County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $192,100, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Tennessee towns.
How Dunlap 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 Dunlap is worth $192,100, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $45,589, which is more affordable than 32% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $868 a month. 62.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dunlap | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $192,100 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $868 | $863 |
| Median household income | $45,589 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.3% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dunlap
| People | Dunlap | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.8% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.1% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.3% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.2% | 88.2% |
Weather in Dunlap
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 31.7°F. About 63.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.1 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dunlap since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 4.2 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 11, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 20, 2006.
Severe weather in Sequatchie County since 1996
Sequatchie County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| 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 |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3473: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Sequatchie County
Sequatchie County had 3,622 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,394 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Dunlap itself the ACS puts it at 12.2%.
Public schools in Dunlap
3 public schools with 1,967 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Griffith Elementary | PK-4 | 777 | 13.2 |
| Sequatchie Co Middle School | 5-8 | 604 | 15.5 |
| Sequatchie Co High School | 9-12 | 586 | 12.7 |
Towns near Dunlap
- Soddy-Daisy, TN14.3 mi · 13,070 people · home $256,600
- Signal Mountain, TN15.7 mi · 8,852 people · home $544,300
- Middle Valley, TN16.3 mi · 11,695 people · home $319,400
- Sale Creek, TN17.4 mi · 3,021 people · home $299,700
- Red Bank, TN18.5 mi · 11,899 people · home $269,400
- Harrison, TN21.6 mi · 7,902 people · home $307,400
- Chattanooga, TN22.3 mi · 181,099 people · home $283,200
- Dayton, TN23.2 mi · 7,065 people · home $214,900
Dunlap questions
Is Dunlap, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dunlap scores better for retirees than 44% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 43%. 23.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Dunlap?
The median owner-occupied home in Dunlap is valued at $192,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,589, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $868 a month.
What is the weather like in Dunlap?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 31.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 63.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3.1 inches of snow.
Does Dunlap get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dunlap 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)