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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Athens

Alabama · 18,967 residents · 40.6 sq mi
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The short version

With 18,967 people, Athens is a city in Alabama. Median rent is $381 a month. The typical home is worth $91,300, having risen by half since 1990. Growth has run 13% since 1990, or 2,177 more people. The median household earns $33,980, about 20% below the national median. 16.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 37.5
US median: 35.2
Average education
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

18,967
+13%since 1990
from 16,790 in 1990
1990 – 2025
37.5
+7%since 1990
from 35.2 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
40.6 sq mi
Population, 19902024
16K19K23K27K30K19902000201020202024Athens
202429K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56.4%(1,215)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 96.7%(1,271)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.7%(1,270)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 196.8%(1,298)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.6%(1,252)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413%(2,474)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4415.4%(2,920)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5412.8%(2,427)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 649.7%(1,835)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 748%(1,524)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 845.5%(1,035)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.4%(446)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$33,980
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 1990
from $25,823 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$19,315
+49%since 1990
from $12,954 in 1990
US average: $21,522
16.3%
+1.9 ptssince 1990
from 14.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$91,300
+18%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $58,900 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$381
−8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $316 in 1990
US average: $602
63.1%
+0.1 ptssince 1990
from 63.0% in 1990
36.9% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic81.3%(13,653)
Black17.5%(2,930)
Hispanic / Latino0.1%(20)
Asian1%(168)
2000
White, non-Hispanic75.1%(14,245)
Black18.1%(3,436)
Hispanic / Latino4.9%(922)
Asian0.7%(134)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican5.9%(1,718)
Guatemalan0.4%(121)
Dominican0.4%(116)
Puerto Rican0.4%(104)
Venezuelan0.2%(67)
Cuban0.2%(51)
Salvadoran0.2%(46)
Spaniard0.1%(43)
Colombian0%(12)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.3%(81)
Cambodian0.2%(57)
Korean0.2%(47)
Asian Indian0.2%(46)
Filipino0.1%(40)
Thai0.1%(17)
Chinese0%(6)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English15.5%(4,490)
Irish13.2%(3,830)
American8.9%(2,581)
German8.3%(2,410)
Scottish2.4%(683)
Polish2.1%(617)
French2.1%(613)
Swedish1.5%(430)
Scotch-Irish1.2%(348)
Welsh1.1%(326)
Italian1%(279)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.5%(158)
Norwegian0.5%(157)
British0.3%(81)
Danish0.2%(64)
Greek0.1%(26)
Russian0.1%(26)
Bulgarian0.1%(23)
Canadian0.1%(16)
Slovak0%(14)
Ukrainian0%(12)
Serbian0%(10)
Czech0%(7)
Latvian0%(4)
Section 05

Education

24.7%
+4.4 ptssince 1990
from 20.4% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
76.2%
+9.9 ptssince 1990
from 66.3% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
7.2%
+0.8 ptssince 1990
from 6.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

14.4 min
−22%since 1990
from 18.5 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.7%(1,721)
Married61.6%(4,290)
Widowed2.5%(175)
Divorced11.2%(783)
Women 15+
Never married20.1%(1,664)
Married52.7%(4,361)
Widowed16.2%(1,339)
Divorced11.1%(917)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

10.4%
−3.8 ptssince 2013
from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
61.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2020
from 59.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
13.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2020
from 15.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
19.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2020
from 22.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
14.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2020
from 17.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 2.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
72.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 72.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
31.6%
−4.7 ptssince 2020
from 36.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)38.7%(658)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)34.4%(584)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era28%(475)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.4%(40)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II3.2%(54)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,699 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Athens, Alabama?

Athens, Alabama has about 18,967 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Athens, Alabama?

The typical household in Athens, Alabama earns about $33,980 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Athens, Alabama expensive?

In Athens, Alabama, the median home is worth about $91,300, and the typical rent is about $381 a month.

How educated are people in Athens, Alabama?

About 24.7% of adults age 25 and over in Athens, Alabama hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Athens, Alabama?

About 16.3% of people in Athens, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.

Has Athens, Alabama grown since 1990?

Yes, Athens, Alabama has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,177 residents, a change of about 13 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →