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Living in
Athens.
About
Life in Athens
Athens is a community of 13,013 people in Texas. The median household income is $67,984, median rent runs about $1,112 per month, and median home values are around $210,800. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.
Athens at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.7%
Foreign-Born
12.0%
Broadband Internet
81.9%
of households
Population Growth
+7.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.0% 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 (72.0%), and 26.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.8%
of residents
65 and Older
19.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.9%
of households
Married Couples
39.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.56
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 21% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Athens
In Athens, rent runs 21% below the TX average, and home values are 26% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.5%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,690
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $255,161 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Athens
Unemployment in Henderson County, which includes Athens, is close to the TX average.
Unemployment rate
Athens: Henderson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Henderson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Athens Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.7 min avg
How Athens residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Athens, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 28 mi
Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (TYR)
Regional airport · few flights51k passengers boarded in 2025
- 73 mi
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Medium hub8.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 84 mi
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Major hub41.3M 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Athens is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
327.2
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,039.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Athens Police Department
Natural DisastersHeat most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Henderson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Henderson County, which includes Athens, the most common type is heat, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Heat | $183,000 |
| 2024 | 24 | Heat | $476,000 |
| 2023 | 17 | Excessive Heat | $2,000 |
| 2022 | 23 | Drought | $3.1M |
| 2021 | 14 | Heat | $1.2M |
| 2020 | 11 | Heat | $150,000 |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $516,000 |
| 2018 | 6 | Winter Weather | $5,000 |
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.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Henderson County, county-wide
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Smith County, TX (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 35 miles from Athens) is typically good — 330 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
35
Good Days
330
per year
Moderate Days
35
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Smith County, TX (35 mi away)
Climate93°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Athens has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/55°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.2"
Hot Days/Year
92
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
41
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
78
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 35°F | 3.54" |
| Feb | 62°F | 39°F | 3.88" |
| Mar | 69°F | 45°F | 4.08" |
| Apr | 76°F | 53°F | 3.82" |
| May | 83°F | 63°F | 4.30" |
| Jun | 90°F | 70°F | 4.09" |
| Jul | 94°F | 73°F | 2.53" |
| Aug | 95°F | 72°F | 2.64" |
| Sep | 89°F | 66°F | 2.97" |
| Oct | 79°F | 55°F | 5.09" |
| Nov | 68°F | 44°F | 3.49" |
| Dec | 59°F | 37°F | 4.32" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Athens
Athens has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
24.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Ut Health East Texas Athens Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education14.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Athens
Athens's student/teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Athens
Trinity Valley Community College
Public · 2-year · 5,655 students · in-state tuition $2,640 · 32% graduate · median earnings $41,336 (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: Waco Mammoth National Monument, 89 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Athens
Athens has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Waco Mammoth National Monument (89 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
89 mi awayPublic Libraries in Athens
Henderson County Clint W Murchison Memorial Library
121 S Prairieville 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, Texas affordable?⌄
Athens's median rent is $1,112/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $67,984/year. Median home value is $210,800.
Is Athens, Texas safe?⌄
Athens's violent crime rate was 327 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1040 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Athens, Texas?⌄
Henderson County, which includes Athens, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Athens, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Athens is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,112/month and median household income is $67,984/year. The median home value is $210,800. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Athens, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Athens is 21 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