Population 23,446 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Athens
Household size in Athens
| Period | Athens | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.45 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Athens has 2.45 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.38, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the west.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.0 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.8 | 39.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.9 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Athens skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.9, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the southwest.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.8% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Athens: 14.8% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has risen 3.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Athens has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Tennessee cities.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.7% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.1% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.3% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.5% | 33.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Athens rent their homes (30.5%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. More than four in ten owners (44.9%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the south.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 11.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 10.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Athens: 12.6% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 1.3 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +6 | +6 |
The typical home in Athens was built around 1976, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in Tennessee overall, where the median home dates to 1986. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the east has the oldest housing. Only 19 of the 202 Tennessee cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $598 | $761 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $600 | $837 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $730 | $961 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $932 | $1,286 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$334 | +$526 | +$606 |
Rent in Athens runs $932 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $334 a month since 2006–10, up 56%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.3% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are 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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.7% | 23.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.9% | 25.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.3% | 27.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.4% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +7.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Athens have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.4%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 4.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the center.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.8% | 83.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.6% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.6% | 87.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.9% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.1 pts | +6.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Athens is close to the national rate: 87.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Tennessee as a whole (89.9%). The share with a diploma is up 9.1 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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 9.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Athens is close to the national rate: 5.6% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Tennessee overall (4.8%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.8 points, as it has nationally.
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 | 2.45 | 41.9 | 14.8% | 30.5% | 12.6% | 1976 | $932 | 20.4% | 87.9% | 5.6% |
| Tellico Hills | 2.11 | 51.6 | 0.4% | 11.5% | 15.3% | 1993 | $1,053 | 30.6% | 90.4% | 1.7% |
| Clearwater | 2.76 | 46.4 | 9.1% | 5.5% | 9.4% | 1996 | $671 | 23.3% | 88.5% | 0.3% |
| Riceville | 2.57 | 46.5 | 12.1% | 16.7% | 5.7% | 1995 | $809 | 19.9% | 85.8% | 2.3% |
| Wesleyanna | 2.13 | 55.6 | 6.7% | 25.3% | 12.0% | 1979 | $718 | 30.9% | 81.5% | 11.0% |
| Englewood | 2.71 | 43.4 | 12.5% | 19.7% | 12.0% | 1980 | $853 | 16.3% | 87.8% | 6.0% |
| Niota | 2.58 | 43.9 | 11.5% | 16.2% | 13.6% | 1996 | $792 | 16.1% | 88.0% | 1.4% |
| Nonaburg | 2.60 | 41.7 | 13.4% | 22.6% | 8.9% | 1985 | $809 | 16.6% | 86.7% | 6.2% |
| Williamsburg | 2.77 | 41.7 | 2.6% | 22.8% | 25.7% | 1980 | $1,010 | 18.7% | 86.0% | 0.0% |
| Union Grove | 2.42 | 45.2 | 8.6% | 26.6% | 11.7% | 1985 | $1,135 | 24.8% | 92.0% | 4.4% |
| South Liberty | 2.95 | 48.8 | 4.7% | 12.7% | 6.7% | 1981 | $602 | 9.5% | 87.5% | 0.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Zachary, LA · Evergreen, CO · American Canyon, CA · Fernley, NV · Antioch, IL · Kennett Square, PA · Highland Park, MI · Hockley, TX · Horizon City, TX · Huntington, IN
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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