Dunlap, TN — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Tennessee·Dunlap

Sequatchie County · Chattanooga · population 5,960

First-time buyersInvestorsGrowing fastSmall-town feel
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
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79
Hot
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Dunlap stands

At or near all-time high. averaging 7.2% annual growth over 5 years. population growing 2.7% per year.

Median home $271,332
1-year +3.5%
5-yr CAGR +7.2%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +2.7%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$271k$120k$174k$228k$282k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
25/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
10/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
77/100
Strong remote-work fit
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
67 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
75 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
87 · w16%
Home 10-yr CAGR
80 · w10%
Long thesis

Dunlap has been growing population at 2.7% per year while home values compounded +7.2% annually. Demand-driven appreciation — the kind that persists as long as people keep showing up, which they currently are.

Short thesis

Dunlap's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Dunlap

Dunlap is a city in Sequatchie County, Tennessee, with an estimated population of 5,960. It anchors the Chattanooga metro area. The population has grown 2.7% per year on average between 2020 and 2024 — among the faster-growing communities in the state. The median home value in Dunlap is $271,332 as of 2026-04, up 3.5% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +7.2% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. The composite momentum score is 79 of 100 (Hot). Buyers should expect competition and limited negotiation room in this market.

▲ Bull case

●People are voting with their feet: population growing 2.7% per year since 2020 — that’s faster than ~80% of US cities.
●Healthy 5-year run: +7.2% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Quiet strength: +3.5% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

Playbook

Buyer

Expect competition, escalation clauses, and pressure to waive inspections. Make your strongest offer up front — Hot markets reward decisiveness, not negotiation. If you can't write a clean offer, you may not be the best fit for this market right now.

Seller

Price slightly above recent comps and let multiple offers work. Days-on-market should be short. Don't accept the first offer in the first 48 hours unless it's significantly above ask.

Investor

Cap rates will look ugly in a Hot market — your thesis has to be appreciation, not yield. Don't expect cash flow; expect to ride the trend and exit before it stalls.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Sequatchie County right now.

NWS active alerts (TN)Tennessee Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Sequatchie County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Dunlap

Manchester, TN79 · HotWinchester, TN77 · RisingMedina, TN78 · HotAthens, TN77 · Rising

Run the numbers for Dunlap

ToolCan I afford Dunlap?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Dunlap rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Dunlap to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolDunlap cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
47° / 28°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
88° / 68°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
207
~57% of year
Annual precip
54″ rain
5″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
High
Wildfire
Low
Earthquake
Moderate
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Dunlap listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Chattanooga area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
71%
Humid climate
Median household income
$64,700
Tennessee state median
Top industries (state-level)
HealthcareMusic/EntertainmentManufacturing

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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