Coastal Middle School, 2023
Whitemarsh Island’s story
Whitemarsh Island in pictures
Census counts: 2,554 in 1990, 6,983 in 2020. The archive holds 9 old photos and papers going back to 2023 and 2 maps from 1955 on.
Explore the history →
Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
6,886
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$400K
Census ACS
Household income
$102K
median
Median age
38.5
years
Jobs based here
1,146
A commuter town
Is Whitemarsh Island a good place to live?
Whitemarsh Island’s grades pull in different directions. The weak point is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $400K, 5.2 years of the Savannah metro’s $77K median household income. Hazard risk is weaker too — FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 95% of U.S. communities, with hurricanes at the top. Health is its strong suit: it is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns. Put together, the subjects come to a C+ overall, ranking 96th of 258 in Georgia. It comes out better than two fifths of U.S. towns. The town’s concentration of trails is 1.8 miles per square mile, above both the Georgia town median (0.3) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). On the outdoors, just 11 of Georgia’s 374 towns do better.
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenStreetMap · USGS PAD-US.
How Whitemarsh Island grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Georgia), ordered by how far Whitemarsh Island is from typical.
Hazard riskHurricanes top the listD−Open →HealthMemorial Health University Medical Center 4.6 miles awayAOpen →Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesDOpen →Jobs & income1,146 jobs based hereAOpen →SchoolsBelow the middle of the towns comparedCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9 of 20; 2.2% of households have no car; 1.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes Whitemarsh Island stand out
Where Whitemarsh Island beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Get outside
12 miles of trails in Whitemarsh Island
4.7% of the town is conserved land, across 5 parks and preserves.
3
Whitemarsh Island - Neighorhood Park 122 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Whitemarsh Island.
Whitemarsh Island has less tooth loss than most of Georgia and is one of Georgia’s best towns for the outdoors, but it carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Georgia (mostly hurricanes).
OutdoorsA
Conservation land takes up 4.7% of Whitemarsh Island
#8for trails in GA
Its A for the outdoors ranks #8 of 264 in Georgia.
Only 7 of the 228 Georgia towns we compare have a higher concentration of trails than Whitemarsh Island. There are 12 miles of trail across 5 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Whitemarsh Preserve aka Demere Tract, at 124 acres.
| Whitemarsh Island | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.8 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 4.7% | 2.2% | 4.3% |
4.7%
conserved · 200 of 4,238 acres
12 mi
of trails · 1.8 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Whitemarsh Preserve aka Demere Tract | 0.6 mi | 124 |
| 2. Turner Creek Boat Ramp | — | 4 |
| 3. Whitemarsh Island - Neighorhood Park 12 | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC
On state tests, Whitemarsh Island’s schools trail 73% of Georgia districts
27%of GA districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
Two of the 3 schools are below, and why each made the list. Its public schools are run by the Savannah-Chatham County school district. The largest public high school is Islands High School, with 752 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshpoint Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 603 | B+ |
| Islands High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 752 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within GA on state tests and graduation
HealthA
Whitemarsh Island earns an A for health
94%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
Its widest gap with Georgia is tooth loss: 6.1% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 14.5% statewide.
In Whitemarsh Island, 36% of adults sleep under 7 hours. Among 261 Georgia towns, just 9 have a lower share of adults 18 to 64 who have no health insurance than Whitemarsh Island. Two figures for adults here: 13% say their health is fair or poor, 18% get no exercise outside work. CDC measures, 32 in all: Whitemarsh Island beats Georgia on 22 and trails on 2.
| Whitemarsh Island | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 38% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 23% | 19% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 29% | 25% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 19% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Georgia
22 better8 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Whitemarsh Island | GA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6.1% | 14.5% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 7.9% | 17.7% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.1% | 7% |
Memorial Health University Medical Center
4.6 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
95th
percentile among GA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Whitemarsh Island faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by hurricanes
95risk score of 100
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 96% of Georgia towns, with expected losses of about $745 per resident a year; that rating is what its D− for hazard risk is built on.
29 flood insurance claims have been paid in Whitemarsh Island since 1999. Only 10 of the 262 Georgia towns we compare have a higher risk rating from FEMA than Whitemarsh Island. FEMA puts nearly two thirds of the town’s expected hazard losses down to hurricanes, and 12% to inland flooding. Households in the town have drawn federal disaster aid in 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2017.
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland floodingCoastal flooding
29
paid flood claims since 1999
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Whitemarsh Island has 0.4 jobs per working resident, so most workers leave town for work
4%work in town
For working residents in Whitemarsh Island, the share who work locally is 3.7%. The top destinations are Savannah (44%), Pooler (4%) and Wilmington Island (4%). The town’s median household income comes in at $102,000. Half commute less than 7 miles.
| Whitemarsh Island | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 15% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $102,000 | $63,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 16% | 9.2% | 11% |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Whitemarsh Island4%
Savannah44%
Pooler4%
Wilmington Island4%
Tybee Island3%
7 mi
median commute distance
1,146
jobs based in Whitemarsh Island
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 61% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Whitemarsh Island has mild winters and hot summers
92°summer high
Its July high comes in at 92°F.
Typical low → high °F
Winter41–64°
Spring55–78°
Summer72–90°
Fall58–78°
Nov 30
typical first frost
Mar 2
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade D
The median home in Whitemarsh Island sells for about $350K
$350Kmedian sale price
Among households in the town, 76% own their home. In Whitemarsh Island, the typical rent is $1,777 a month. On the market here: a median 40 days to sell.
| Whitemarsh Island | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,777 a month | $1,152 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 76% | 58% | 73% |
Market temperature
40
days on market
97.4%
sale-to-list price
8
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Whitemarsh Island
17pages on Whitemarsh Island
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Nearby attractions
All 29 attractions →Fort Pulaski National Monument and 25 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Whitemarsh Island. Close and well known come first.
3 mi National MonumentFort Pulaski National Monument321K visitors a year
6 mi MuseumMercer House
5 mi State parkWormsloe Historic Site
6 mi MuseumSorrel–Weed House
6 mi MuseumCongregation Mickve Israel
6 mi Park & preserveForsyth ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Fort Pulaski National Monument: Edibobb, CC BY 3.0 · Mercer House: Kyle Kesselring from Canal Winchester, OH, CC BY 2.0 · Wormsloe Historic Site: Bubba73, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sorrel–Weed House: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Congregation Mickve Israel: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Forsyth Park: Unknown, CC BY-SA 2.5
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Getting set up
Moving to Whitemarsh Island: who provides what
Whitemarsh Island is unincorporated, so Chatham County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerGeorgia Power16.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSavannah-Whitemarsh Island water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesChatham CountyChatham County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Georgia you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereChatham County Voter RegistrationChatham County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code3141031410 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
By the sea
Whitemarsh Island lives by the ocean
Coastal flooding makes up 12% of the storm damage FEMA expects here.
12%of expected storm damage is coastal flooding
99thpercentile for coastal flood risk nationally
29paid flood-insurance claims since 1999
2storm & flood disasters paid out here
On the water
- Whitemarsh Preserve aka Demere Tract Directions ↗
- Whitemarsh Island - Neighorhood Park 12
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA · OpenStreetMap
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of Whitemarsh Island
Savannah State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Savannah3 mi$5,750 in-state tuitionSavannah College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Savannah5.6 mi$41,630 tuitionSavannah Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Savannah6 mi$3,330 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Whitemarsh Island residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Georgia.
About Whitemarsh Island
Place in Georgia, United States
Whitemarsh Island (; WHIT-marsh) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 6,983 at the 2020 U.S. census. It is part of the Savannah metropolitan statistical area. The communities of Whitemarsh Island are a relatively affluent suburb of Savannah.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 6.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 13 ft
- Area code
- 912
Whitemarsh Island’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Whitemarsh Island.
ThunderboltTalahi IslandWilmington IslandDutch IslandWhitemarsh Island
How the neighbors grade
| Town | GA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitemarsh Island | #96 | C+ | D | — | C | A |
| Thunderbolt | #196 | D | D | C+ | C | C+ |
| Talahi Island | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wilmington Island | #105 | C+ | D | — | C | A |
| Dutch Island | — | — | D− | — | C | A |
Dutch Island has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Whitemarsh Island, Wilmington Island and Dutch Island report no FBI crime data of their own. Talahi Island isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Whitemarsh Island with a neighbor →
Questions about Whitemarsh Island
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Whitemarsh Island, GA a good place to live?
Whitemarsh Island grades C+ overall, better than 40% of U.S. towns and #96 of 258 in Georgia. It grades A for health and C for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Whitemarsh Island, GA expensive?
Yes. The typical home is worth about $400,000, 21% above the Georgia typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.
Whitemarsh Island is in here
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