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Living in
Athens.
About
Life in Athens
Living in Athens means getting genuine small-town affordability without feeling isolated—the median home value sits around $225,000 and rent averages just $846 a month, which goes a long way in a place where the median household income is $53,929. The summers here are hot and humid, which is standard for Tennessee, and winters are mild—nothing severe, just cool—so you're not battling extreme weather, though you'll want air conditioning for those sticky months. Weekends pull you toward real outdoor access: the Obed Wild & Scenic River is 45 minutes out, Great Smoky Mountains is 62 miles away, and you're surrounded by the Appalachian ridges and streams that define the landscape, so hiking and water recreation are legitimate escapes without requiring a full road trip.
Athens at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.0%
Foreign-Born
4.0%
Broadband Internet
92.1%
of households
Population Growth
+8.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Athens: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Athens, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (32.4%), and 4.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.1%
of residents
65 and Older
17.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.1%
of households
Married Couples
35.4%
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 29% below TN average
Rent, home values, and income in Athens
In Athens, rent runs 29% below the TN average, and home values are 22% below the TN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.2%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,098
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $259,623 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above TN average
Unemployment in Athens
Unemployment in McMinn County, which includes Athens, is 0.9 percentage points higher than the TN average.
Unemployment rate
Athens: McMinn County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
McMinn County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Athens Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.7 min avg
How Athens residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Athens, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 42 mi
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
Small hub1.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 125 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M 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 27% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Athens runs 27% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
418.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,784.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Athens Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
60.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
McMinn County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In McMinn County, which includes Athens, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,000 |
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.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
McMinn County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in McMinn County, which includes Athens, is typically good — 279 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
279
per year
Moderate Days
78
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
McMinn County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Athens has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
71°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
51°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
60.4"
Annual Snowfall
3.6"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
85
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 28°F | 5.56" |
| Feb | 53°F | 31°F | 5.07" |
| Mar | 62°F | 37°F | 5.51" |
| Apr | 71°F | 45°F | 5.50" |
| May | 79°F | 55°F | 4.59" |
| Jun | 85°F | 63°F | 5.03" |
| Jul | 88°F | 68°F | 5.52" |
| Aug | 88°F | 66°F | 4.03" |
| Sep | 83°F | 60°F | 5.20" |
| Oct | 73°F | 47°F | 3.58" |
| Nov | 61°F | 36°F | 4.88" |
| Dec | 52°F | 31°F | 5.91" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Athens
Athens has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Starr Regional Medical Center Athens
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Sweetwater Hospital Association
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.6 mi away · Sweetwater
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.
Education17.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Athens
Athens's student/teacher ratio is 17.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Athens
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 846 students · in-state tuition $32,050 · 56% graduate · median earnings $53,474 (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: Obed Wild & Scenic River, 45 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Athens
Athens has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Obed Wild & Scenic River (45 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Obed Wild & Scenic River
Wild & Scenic River
45 mi awayChickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
National Military Park
52 mi awayGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
62 mi awayBig South Fork National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
75 mi awayRussell Cave National Monument
National Monument
76 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
92 mi awayCumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Historical Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Athens
E. G. Fisher Public Library
1289 Ingleside Avenue, 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, Tennessee affordable?⌄
Athens's median rent is $846/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $53,929/year. Median home value is $225,000.
Is Athens, Tennessee safe?⌄
Athens's violent crime rate was 418 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2784 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Athens, Tennessee?⌄
McMinn County, which includes Athens, has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Athens, Tennessee?⌄
The cost of living in Athens is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $846/month and median household income is $53,929/year. The median home value is $225,000. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Athens, Tennessee?⌄
The average commute in Athens is 22 minutes, which is about 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