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Living in
Athens.
About
Life in Athens
Athens is a community of 23,211 people in Ohio. The median household income is $38,204, median rent runs about $1,011 per month, and median home values are around $247,000. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.
Athens at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
21.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
40.0%
Foreign-Born
6.6%
Broadband Internet
89.6%
of households
Population Growth
+6.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.6% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Athens: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Athens, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (16.1%), and 1.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
8.0%
of residents
65 and Older
6.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
12.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.8%
of households
Married Couples
24.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for OH
Rent, home values, and income in Athens
In Athens, home values are 15% above the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
63.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
42.1%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,447
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
32.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $244,064 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above OH average
Unemployment in Athens and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Athens is 0.6 percentage points higher than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Athens Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area
Commute16.2 min avg
How Athens residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Athens, most residents drive alone to work (46%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 35 mi
Mid Ohio Valley Regional Airport (PKB)
Regional airport · few flights5,257 passengers boarded in 2025
- 63 mi
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 75% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Athens runs 75% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
83.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
754.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Athens Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
68.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Athens County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Athens County, which includes Athens, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2024 | 18 | Strong Wind | $17,550 |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $27,000 |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,750 |
| 2021 | 14 | Flash Flood | $68,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $34,000 |
| 2019 | 14 | Hail | $91,000 |
| 2018 | 19 | Flood | $49,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Athens County, county-wide
Air Quality31 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Athens County, which includes Athens, is typically good — 301 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
31
Good Days
301
per year
Moderate Days
60
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Athens County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Athens has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.6"
Annual Snowfall
17.6"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 22°F | 2.89" |
| Feb | 42°F | 23°F | 2.94" |
| Mar | 52°F | 30°F | 3.57" |
| Apr | 65°F | 40°F | 3.78" |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 4.20" |
| Jun | 80°F | 59°F | 4.50" |
| Jul | 82°F | 63°F | 4.34" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.16" |
| Sep | 76°F | 54°F | 3.18" |
| Oct | 65°F | 42°F | 2.93" |
| Nov | 53°F | 32°F | 2.91" |
| Dec | 43°F | 27°F | 3.16" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Athens
Athens has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
4.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Ohiohealth O'bleness Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Appalachian Behavioral Health Care
Psychiatric
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Athens
Athens's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 64.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
64.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Athens
Public · 4-year · 19,633 students · in-state tuition $14,582 · 69% graduate · median earnings $61,938 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, 52 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Athens
Athens has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (52 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
52 mi awayGauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
97 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Athens
Athens Branch
30 Home St, Athens
Cities Near Athens
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Athens?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Athens FAQ
Is Athens, Ohio affordable?⌄
Athens's median rent is $1,011/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $38,204/year. Median home value is $247,000.
Is Athens, Ohio safe?⌄
Athens's violent crime rate was 83 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 754 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Athens, Ohio?⌄
Athens has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Athens, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Athens is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,011/month and median household income is $38,204/year. The median home value is $247,000. About 64% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Athens, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Athens is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from