United States › Alabama › Athens CITY · 2010 ACS
Athens Alabama · 21,897 residents · 40.6 sq mi
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The short version
Athens is a city of 21,897 people in Alabama. The typical home is worth $134,200. Renters pay $535 a month at the median. 6% of residents were born outside the United States. Growth has run 15% since 2000, or 2,930 more people. The median household earns $42,127, about 20% below the national median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 39.2
US median: 37.2
Average education
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01
Population & growth from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K 19K 23K 27K 30K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Athens Age distribution, 2010
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Section 02
Income & economy $42,127
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,980 in 2000
US average: $52,703
from $19,315 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
from 16.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Workforce by industry, 2010
Public administration 2.5%
Education & health services 2.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.7%
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$134,200
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,300 in 2000
US average: $225,659
$535
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $381 in 2000
US average: $853
from 63.1% in 2000
37.1% rent
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
from 2.49 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
from 35.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
from 3.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 75.1%(14,245)
Hispanic / Latino 4.9%(922)
2010
White, non-Hispanic 70.8%(15,498)
Hispanic / Latino 8.8%(1,932)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 24.7% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
from 76.2% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.4 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
from 33.6% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08
People & community from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 34.3%(3,860)
Women 15+
Never married 26.9%(3,452)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 59.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 22.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 17.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 72.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
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)
Gulf War (1990s) 34.4%(584)
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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Athens Head to head
Compare Athens to nearby cities ATHENS VS
Madison
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ATHENS VS
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ATHENS VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Athens, Alabama? Athens, Alabama has about 21,897 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Athens, Alabama? The typical household in Athens, Alabama earns about $42,127 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 $134,200, and the typical rent is about $535 a month.
How educated are people in Athens, Alabama? About 25.4% 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 17.5% 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 5,107 residents, a change of about 30 percent over that period.
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