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CITY · 2010 ACS

Athens

Alabama · 21,897 residents · 40.604 sq mi
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The short version

Athens has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $42,127. Population has grown 15% since 2000. Median home value is $134,200.

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

Total population
21,897
+15%since 2000
from 18,967 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
39.2
+5%since 2000
from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K19K23K27K30K1990201020202024Athens
202429K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 56.7%(1,461)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 96.2%(1,354)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 146.2%(1,362)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 196.2%(1,362)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.3%(1,384)
US avg: 7%
25 to 3413.1%(2,859)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 4412.9%(2,834)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 5414.5%(3,180)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 6411.7%(2,564)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 748.2%(1,805)
US avg: 7%
75 to 845.6%(1,227)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over2.3%(505)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,127
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,980 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,136
+35%since 2000
from $19,315 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
26.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
17.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 16.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.499
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade19.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Information11.9%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade8.6%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 7%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Education & health services2.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 2.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$134,200
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,300 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$535
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $381 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
41.9%
−21.2 ptssince 2000
from 63.1% in 2000
37.1% rent
Vacancy rate
6.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
21.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.8%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 35.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.2
−5%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Athens on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic75.1%(14,245)
Black18.1%(3,436)
Hispanic / Latino4.9%(922)
Asian0.7%(134)
Other0%
2010
White, non-Hispanic70.8%(15,498)
Black17.4%(3,805)
Hispanic / Latino8.8%(1,932)
Asian0.9%(190)
Other1.3%(294)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican7.1%(1,503)
Guatemalan1%(207)
Cuban0.3%(60)
Ancestry
American13.6%(2,865)
English11.8%(2,477)
Irish11.2%(2,360)
German8.6%(1,808)
Scotch-Irish2.5%(519)
Scottish1.9%(399)
Swedish1.8%(374)
French1.4%(299)
Dutch1.2%(259)
Italian1.2%(256)
Polish0.8%(173)
Greek0.8%(164)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.3%(67)
Welsh0.2%(50)
Lithuanian0.2%(40)
Hungarian0.1%(31)
British0.1%(26)
Norwegian0.1%(25)
Austrian0.1%(21)
Latvian0%(10)
Arab0%(8)
Iraqi0%(8)
Swiss0%(6)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 24.7% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
81.7%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 76.2% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
9.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.3 min
+48%since 2000
from 14.4 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
83.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
14.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
1.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
0.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
10.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
34.4%
−29.5 ptssince 2009
from 63.9% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
44.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 44.8% in 2009
Female
56.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 55.2% in 2009
Foreign born
5.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
10.3%
−35.0 ptssince 2009
from 45.3% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married34.3%(3,860)
Married53%(5,955)
Widowed1.9%(210)
Divorced10.8%(1,220)
Women 15+
Never married26.9%(3,452)
Married49%(6,287)
Widowed9.7%(1,240)
Divorced14.5%(1,862)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Compare Athens to nearby cities

ATHENS VS
Madison
Income$134,655+220%
Home value$398,800+197%
Population67,968+99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ATHENS VS
Decatur
Income$61,563+46%
Home value$210,200+57%
Population58,056+70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ATHENS VS
Huntsville
Income$74,714+77%
Home value$293,600+119%
Population233,627+583%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ATHENS VS
Meridianville
Income$97,434+131%
Home value$291,900+118%
Population11,150−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →