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METRO AREA

Athens Metro

Athens-Clarke County, GA · 4 counties · 224,148 residents (2025 est.) · 1,025.028 sq mi
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The short version

Athens has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $69,695. Population has grown 33% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $314,999. At a median age of 34.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
44% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 66%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
220,197
+33%since 2000
from 166,079 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
215 / sq mi
+33%since 2000
from 162 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.3
+17%since 2000
from 29.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:224,148 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
128K153K178K203K229K1990201020202024Athens
2024220K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$69,695
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,413 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,279
+105%since 2000
from $18,211 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.1%
+21.8 ptssince 2009
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 21.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.477
−3%since 2010
from 0.491 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade5.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$314,999
+66%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $104,024 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,210
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $528 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
57.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 57.1% in 2000
42.6% rent
Vacancy rate
7.1%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.0%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 26.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.3%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.5
+50%since 2000
from 3.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
82
RELATED:See current rent listings in Athens on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic71.4%(118,537)
Black20.3%(33,790)
Hispanic / Latino4.8%(7,950)
Asian2.2%(3,635)
Other0%
Diversity Score54%(89,616)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic64.4%(141,763)
Black18.2%(39,973)
Hispanic / Latino9.6%(21,184)
Asian3.7%(8,160)
Other4.1%(9,117)
Diversity Score67.5%(148,694)
Segregation Score32.5%(71,554)
Diversity Score
68
+25%since 2000
from 54 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
32
−9%since 2020
from 36 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
43.8%
+10.3 ptssince 2000
from 33.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.0%
+10.3 ptssince 2000
from 79.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
22.1%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.6 min
+61%since 2000
from 14.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.2%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.9%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.5%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 7.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2011
from 59.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.7%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 19.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
45.0%
−21.1 ptssince 2009
from 66.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
8.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.0%
−43.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2012
from 12.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.9%
−72.2 ptssince 2013
from 83.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.6%
+16.5 ptssince 2017
from 75.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 88.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 7.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

AthensCENTRAL128,612
What's inside

4 component counties

Clarke CountyCENTRAL129,921Oconee CountyCENTRAL44,893Madison County32,919Oglethorpe County16,415
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Athens

Punta Gorda
Pop 217,212
Jacksonville
Pop 217,175
Panama City
Pop 231,174
Columbia
Pop 219,062
Places similar to Athens
Head to head

Compare Athens side by side

ATHENS VS
Punta Gorda
Income$69,952same
Home value$328,900+4%
Population217,212−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ATHENS VS
Jacksonville
Income$68,148−2%
Home value$236,400−25%
Population217,175−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ATHENS VS
Panama City
Income$71,687+3%
Home value$293,695−7%
Population231,174+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ATHENS VS
Columbia
Income$72,269+4%
Home value$262,026−17%
Population219,062−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Athens-Clarke County, GA?

Athens-Clarke County, GA has about 220,197 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Athens-Clarke County, GA?

The typical household in Athens-Clarke County, GA earns about $69,695 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Athens-Clarke County, GA expensive?

In Athens-Clarke County, GA, the median home is worth about $314,999, and the typical rent is about $1,210 a month.

How educated are people in Athens-Clarke County, GA?

About 43.8% of adults age 25 and over in Athens-Clarke County, GA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Athens-Clarke County, GA?

About 19.8% of people in Athens-Clarke County, GA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Athens-Clarke County, GA grown since 1990?

Yes, Athens-Clarke County, GA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 84,172 residents, a change of about 62 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →