United States › Tennessee › Athens CITY · 2020 ACS
Athens Tennessee · 14,084 residents · 15.6 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Athens is a city of 14,084 people in Tennessee. That trails the Tennessee median by roughly 33%. About 22% of adults have finished a four-year degree. 23.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. The median household earns $36,864, about 44% below the national median. The typical home is worth $156,800, having more than doubled since 2000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 40%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 36.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K 13K 13K 14K 15K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Athens Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $36,864
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,277 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,877 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 18.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 4.3%
Public administration 3.3%
Transportation & warehousing 1.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.8%
Education & health services 0.6%
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$156,800
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $74,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$741
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $422 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 60.9% in 2000
44.4% rent
from 2.37 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.2 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 85.1%(11,247)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 78.1%(10,994)
Hispanic / Latino 7.4%(1,041)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data from 16.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 71.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 83.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 55.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 33.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 14.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 35.5%(1,989)
Women 15+
Never married 33.4%(2,160)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 14.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 24.3%(170)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.6%(137)
Share of the 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
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ATHENS VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Athens, Tennessee? Athens, Tennessee has about 14,084 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Athens, Tennessee? The typical household in Athens, Tennessee earns about $36,864 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Athens, Tennessee expensive? In Athens, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $156,800, and the typical rent is about $741 a month.
How educated are people in Athens, Tennessee? About 21.9% of adults age 25 and over in Athens, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Athens, Tennessee? About 23.7% of people in Athens, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.
Has Athens, Tennessee grown since 1990? Yes, Athens, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,030 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.
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