Population 128,000 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Athens
Household size in Athens
| Period | Athens | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.51 | 2.70 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.67 | 2.77 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.23 | 2.73 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.28 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Athens is a place of small households, averaging 2.23 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.51 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 282 Georgia cities with 5,000+ people, only ten have smaller households.
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 | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.1 | 36.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 30.7 | 36.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 31.2 | 38.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.2 | 38.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.1 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 33.2, Athens is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 30.1, as it has nationally. Of the 282 Georgia cities with 5,000+ people, only 16 are younger.
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 | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 13.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 13.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Athens as they are nationally: 11.9%, against 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in Georgia as a whole (13.4%). The single-parent share has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.4% | 32.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 57.6% | 35.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 60.4% | 36.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 58.8% | 34.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Athens: 58.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 44.8% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 4.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only ten of the 282 Georgia cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
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 | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.4% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.5% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −10.3 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Athens than nationally: 7.1%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 10.3 points, a much bigger shift than 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 | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1985 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1987 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Athens is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1987, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1982 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center.
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 | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $760 | $910 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $863 | $977 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $905 | $1,112 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,256 | $1,520 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$496 | +$609 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Athens costs $1,256 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $496 a month since 2006–10, up 65%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 35.7% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the southwest.
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 | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.4% | 28.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 43.2% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.8% | 31.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 46.3% | 35.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Athens is highly educated: 46.3% of adults 25 and older hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 1.9 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the northeast.
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 | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.0% | 84.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.9% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.8% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.3% | 89.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +5.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just as many adults in Athens have finished high school as nationally: 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.3 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 | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 10.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Athens is close to the national rate: 5.2% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.5 points from 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 | 2.23 | 33.2 | 11.9% | 58.8% | 7.1% | 1987 | $1,256 | 46.3% | 89.3% | 5.2% |
| Winterville | 2.61 | 42.2 | 20.7% | 31.7% | 9.0% | 1988 | $972 | 30.7% | 83.9% | 4.2% |
| Watkinsville | 2.96 | 40.5 | 7.8% | 15.9% | 5.8% | 1995 | $1,563 | 55.6% | 96.9% | 3.0% |
| Bogart | 2.75 | 41.7 | 7.0% | 23.4% | 7.3% | 1997 | $1,841 | 59.3% | 96.6% | 2.5% |
| Hull | 2.55 | 42.2 | 18.3% | 28.4% | 8.4% | 1993 | $1,008 | 24.2% | 88.9% | 5.6% |
| Bishop | 2.98 | 39.8 | 4.4% | 12.0% | 3.8% | 2003 | $1,098 | 55.6% | 96.3% | 4.2% |
| Red Stone | 3.09 | 37.9 | 7.9% | 18.0% | 8.0% | 1997 | $1,084 | 28.4% | 80.5% | 2.2% |
| Arnoldsville | 2.59 | 43.1 | 8.7% | 22.7% | 13.0% | 1994 | $899 | 24.8% | 86.8% | 2.7% |
| North High Shoals | 2.67 | 45.5 | 5.4% | 16.7% | 2.8% | 2002 | $1,222 | 52.6% | 94.2% | 3.2% |
| Nicholson | 2.79 | 43.0 | 9.3% | 19.8% | 16.3% | 1995 | $1,130 | 18.5% | 84.6% | 5.1% |
| Colbert | 3.09 | 38.2 | 18.4% | 16.8% | 9.6% | 1993 | $1,140 | 32.2% | 86.0% | 1.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rochester Hills, MI · Rochester, NY · Hampton, VA · Hartford, CT · Grand Prairie, TX · Hamilton, OH · Greensboro, NC · Green Bay, WI · Greer, SC · Delray Beach, FL
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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