Population 59,448 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Athens
Household size in Athens
| Period | Athens | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.60 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.86 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.16 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
At 2.64 people per household, Athens sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Alabama as a whole, where it has 2.56 people. Household size has climbed from 2.48 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Athens
| Period | Athens | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.3 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.3 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.8 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.4 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Athens is 41.7 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 38.3 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the northwest, the oldest in the northeast.
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 Athens
| Period | Athens | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Athens than nationally: 8.7%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.0 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Athens
Renters in Athens
| Period | Athens | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.9% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.8% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.7% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.0% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Athens rent their homes (28.0%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 43.1% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the east.
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 Athens
| Period | Athens | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Athens is close to the national rate: 8.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Alabama overall (13.5%). Vacancy is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Athens
| Period | Athens | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Athens has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1992, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1984 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 Athens
| Period | Athens | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $628 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $655 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $731 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,128 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$499 | +$375 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Athens costs $1,128 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $499 a month since 2006–10, up 79%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 27.8% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the northwest.
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 Athens
Bachelor's degrees in Athens
| Period | Athens | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.0% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.1% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.6% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a quarter of adults 25 and older in Athens (27.6%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the northwest.
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 Athens
| Period | Athens | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.8% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.1% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.3% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.8% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Athens never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 5.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Athens
| Period | Athens | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Athens than nationally: unemployment was 3.8%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.3 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Athens compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | 2.64 | 41.7 | 8.7% | 28.0% | 8.9% | 1992 | $1,128 | 27.6% | 85.8% | 3.8% |
| Tanner Crossroads | 2.82 | 43.5 | 6.7% | 13.2% | 7.4% | 1998 | $1,607 | 40.0% | 90.9% | 2.6% |
| Hays Mill | 2.42 | 43.9 | 8.0% | 37.3% | 16.6% | 1990 | $1,167 | 36.7% | 84.5% | 0.8% |
| Jones Crossroads | 2.91 | 39.2 | 9.9% | 15.8% | 7.8% | 1986 | $724 | 16.6% | 81.7% | 5.4% |
| Tanner | 2.90 | 41.8 | 9.6% | 16.6% | 7.8% | 1990 | $838 | 19.0% | 82.6% | 4.5% |
| Reid | 2.75 | 38.5 | 11.1% | 21.8% | 7.9% | 1985 | $890 | 17.7% | 78.1% | 8.3% |
| Brookwood Forest | 1.93 | 52.8 | 9.9% | 33.0% | 6.3% | 1991 | $1,668 | 24.8% | 62.6% | 17.7% |
| Elkmont | 2.63 | 39.3 | 10.6% | 16.2% | 9.2% | 1994 | $857 | 15.7% | 86.3% | 3.2% |
| Thach | 2.30 | 48.1 | 6.3% | 16.6% | 9.9% | 1991 | $664 | 10.9% | 76.7% | 0.4% |
| Gipsy | 2.89 | 32.1 | 15.9% | 16.2% | 8.4% | 1993 | $767 | 20.3% | 89.5% | 6.2% |
| Ripley | 1.98 | 50.9 | 12.4% | 28.5% | 10.1% | 1994 | $1,718 | 29.6% | 73.7% | 13.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Miami Beach, FL · West Chester, OH · Blacksburg, VA · Crestview, FL · North Fort Myers, FL · Fuquay-Varina, NC · Gallatin, TN · Hialeah Gardens, FL · Hollister, CA · West Sacramento, CA
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 Athens. 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.
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