Population 68,762 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Walker County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Walker County
Household size in Walker County
| Period | Walker County | Chattanooga area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.58 | 2.48 | 2.70 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.53 | 2.77 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.50 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.59 | 2.50 | 2.73 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | +0.02 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
At 2.59 people per household, Walker County sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in the wider Chattanooga area, where it has 2.50 people. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the east.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Walker County
| Period | Walker County | Chattanooga area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8 | 39.6 | 36.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.9 | 40.5 | 36.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.6 | 41.3 | 38.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.3 | 41.2 | 38.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +1.6 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Walker County is 42.3 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The picture is much the same across the Chattanooga area. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.8, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Walker County
| Period | Walker County | Chattanooga area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 11.2% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 11.2% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 9.8% | 13.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.7% | 11.1% | 13.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Walker County (10.7%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Walker County has a lower share of single-parent households than most Georgia counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Walker County
Renters in Walker County
| Period | Walker County | Chattanooga area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.0% | 30.9% | 32.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.1% | 32.2% | 35.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.2% | 32.9% | 36.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.8% | 31.8% | 34.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Walker County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 46.2% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Walker County
| Period | Walker County | Chattanooga area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 11.3% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.5% | 11.8% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.8% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 9.9% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Walker County than nationally: 11.7%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has edged down 0.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Walker County
| Period | Walker County | Chattanooga area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1977 | 1985 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1978 | 1987 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1980 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1983 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Walker County are the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the south.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Walker County
| Period | Walker County | Chattanooga area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $650 | $731 | $910 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $674 | $803 | $977 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $801 | $876 | $1,112 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $944 | $1,184 | $1,520 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$293 | +$454 | +$609 | +$606 |
The median renter in Walker County pays $944 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $293 a month since 2006–10, up 45%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.0% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Walker County
Bachelor's degrees in Walker County
| Period | Walker County | Chattanooga area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 22.9% | 28.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.6% | 24.3% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.8% | 27.2% | 31.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.0% | 31.6% | 35.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Walker County: 21.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 8.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the south.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Walker County
| Period | Walker County | Chattanooga area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.3% | 82.5% | 84.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 79.9% | 84.9% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.0% | 87.4% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.0% | 89.5% | 89.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.7 pts | +7.0 pts | +5.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Walker County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 10.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Walker County
| Period | Walker County | Chattanooga area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 9.1% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 9.3% | 10.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 4.9% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 4.7% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.3 pts | −4.4 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Walker County runs below the national rate: 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 7.3 points, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Walker County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walker County | 2.59 | 42.3 | 10.7% | 22.8% | 11.7% | 1980 | $944 | 21.0% | 87.0% | 3.8% |
| Catoosa County | 2.60 | 41.6 | 13.3% | 25.8% | 8.3% | 1991 | $1,004 | 25.0% | 89.6% | 4.4% |
| Dade County | 2.51 | 43.4 | 8.1% | 20.0% | 17.1% | 1987 | $877 | 18.0% | 88.2% | 3.9% |
| Whitfield County | 2.88 | 36.9 | 14.4% | 33.0% | 8.4% | 1985 | $1,025 | 20.5% | 74.5% | 4.7% |
| Murray County | 2.73 | 39.2 | 15.0% | 26.2% | 7.5% | 1993 | $892 | 15.8% | 78.6% | 4.3% |
| Jackson County | 2.45 | 43.6 | 11.3% | 24.9% | 12.1% | 1985 | $757 | 16.0% | 82.6% | 4.3% |
| Fannin County | 2.21 | 51.1 | 12.2% | 21.4% | 34.5% | 1993 | $989 | 23.8% | 88.1% | 3.6% |
| Union County | 2.27 | 54.9 | 5.4% | 15.6% | 21.8% | 1995 | $945 | 26.6% | 87.8% | 2.4% |
| Madison County | 2.46 | 39.5 | 10.0% | 31.7% | 8.3% | 1992 | $1,390 | 45.9% | 92.7% | 3.6% |
| Towns County | 2.05 | 54.7 | 8.0% | 17.7% | 30.4% | 1996 | $883 | 32.6% | 92.5% | 4.9% |
| Limestone County | 2.76 | 40.2 | 8.8% | 22.4% | 7.7% | 1999 | $1,308 | 34.7% | 87.9% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Hall County, NE · Surry County, NC · Starr County, TX · Lamar County, MS · Klamath County, OR · Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK · Jones County, MS · Jefferson County, OH · Iberia Parish, LA · Harrison County, WV
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Walker County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.