Population 3,557 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Athens
Household size in Athens
| Period | Athens | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.61 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.70 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.53 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.47 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
The average household in Athens has 2.47 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.61, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.1 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.7 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.0 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 40.0, the median age in Athens is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Athens than nationally: 10.4%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Illinois.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.2% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.9% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.0% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.0% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Athens is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 37.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Athens: just 5.3% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Athens is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $591 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $678 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $765 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $882 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$291 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Athens costs $882 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 29.9% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.0% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.4% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.4% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.8% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Athens than nationally: 28.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.8% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.1% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.3% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Athens is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.8% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Athens runs below the national rate: 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% 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).
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 | 2.47 | 40.0 | 10.4% | 18.0% | 5.3% | 1985 | $882 | 28.8% | 93.6% | 4.6% |
| Cantrall | 2.72 | 45.4 | 10.6% | 12.4% | 3.1% | 1981 | $1,058 | 34.4% | 96.1% | 0.4% |
| Tice | 2.71 | 43.2 | 8.5% | 12.2% | 1.4% | 1993 | $948 | 31.8% | 93.5% | 4.5% |
| Salisbury | 2.22 | 55.0 | 8.2% | 2.9% | 8.8% | 1986 | $1,052 | 42.0% | 98.5% | 5.0% |
| Green Acres | 2.64 | 49.3 | 6.5% | 7.5% | 4.9% | 1982 | $1,144 | 28.4% | 96.6% | 0.0% |
| Sweet Water | 2.53 | 47.6 | 10.8% | 7.1% | 4.9% | 1965 | $567 | 23.9% | 95.8% | 2.0% |
| Petersburg | 2.23 | 44.8 | 10.8% | 24.9% | 5.5% | 1974 | $876 | 33.5% | 95.5% | 2.7% |
| Fancy Prairie | 2.68 | 43.9 | 10.2% | 10.3% | 6.2% | 1972 | $757 | 36.9% | 96.2% | 1.1% |
| Archer | 2.29 | 43.6 | 6.5% | 3.9% | 10.7% | 1974 | $738 | 27.7% | 92.4% | 2.7% |
| Greenview | 2.35 | 44.9 | 10.6% | 15.0% | 7.3% | 1965 | $748 | 20.4% | 94.8% | 1.5% |
| Sherman | 2.66 | 45.1 | 6.0% | 9.8% | 3.5% | 1992 | $1,652 | 47.9% | 96.9% | 2.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Union City, MI · Vernonia, OR · Edwards, IL · Como, MS · North Shore, CA · Mechanicsburg, OH · Long Beach, WA · Willis, MI · Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, MI · Stem, NC
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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