Athens, AL

Full City Profile · Alabama · Limestone County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
27,474 Population 657/sq mi density
$65,000 Median Income $39,921 per capita
$253,700 Home Value $308,196 Zillow
$834 Median Rent 25.2% income on rent
63°F Avg Temperature
243 Violent Crime/100K 2,167 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$65,000 median income, 3.3% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.5 / 5.0
$253,700 home value, $834/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
243 violent crimes/100K
B
Education
3.5 / 5.0
30.8% bachelor's degree or higher

Athens, AL

At a Glance

Median Income
$65,000
14% below
$39,921 per capita
Home Value
$253,700
10% below
Zillow: $308,196
Median Rent
$834/mo
28% below
25.2% of income on rent
Violent Crime
243/100K
36% below
2,167/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
30.8%
9% below
88.8% high school+
Unemployment
3.3%
8% below
9.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.5%
26% above
15.1% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
63°F

How Athens Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Athens's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
86%
Home Value
90%
Rent
72%
Poverty
78%
Bachelor's
91%
Unemployment
92%
Crime
64%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Athens a Good Place to Live?

B
3.2 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Athens residents earn a median household income of $65,000 , which is 14% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $39,921. The unemployment rate stands at 3.3% (8% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 9.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 2,050 business establishments, including 124 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Athens is $253,700 , 10% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $308,196. Median rent is $834/month, with 25.2% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 88.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1983.

Safety & Crime

Athens reports 243 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 36% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 2,167/100K. The murder rate is 6.1/100K.

Education

30.8% of adults in Athens hold a bachelor's degree or higher (9% below the national average). 88.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.8/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Athens has an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 59.1 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population27,474
Median Age41.6 yrs
Density657/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born5.3%
Veterans6.9%

Economy

B+
Median Income$65,000
Per Capita$39,921
Unemployment3.3%
Poverty9.7%
County GDP$6,971M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,206

Housing

A
Home Value$253,700
Rent$834
Ownership63.3%
Zillow$308,196
Housing Units11,586
Rent Burden25.2%

Crime

F
Violent243/100K
Property2,167/100K
Murder6.1/100K
Assault210/100K
Burglary338/100K

Health

Obesity40.5%
Diabetes11.7%
Smoking15.1%
Heart Disease5.9%
Premature Death8,777/100K

Climate

Avg Temp63°F
Rain59.1 in/yr
Elevation676 ft

Education

B
Bachelor's+30.8%
High School+88.8%
Graduate+9.8%
School Score4.8/10

Community

2024 VoteR 71% / D 27%
Commute25 min
Broadband88.5%
Internet Speed170 Mbps
EV Stations11
Libraries1

Did You Know?

Athens was founded in 1818.
The median home in Athens was built in 1983.
The nearest airport is Pryor Field Regional (9 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.427 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
15.4% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 170 Mbps.
There are 124 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 32 fatal vehicle crashes.