With 220,197 people, Athens is a metro area. That puts it in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income. This skews young, with a median age of 34.3. 54,118 more people live here than in 2000. About 44% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The poverty rate is 19.8%, above the 12.5% national rate.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $69,695, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Athens
What changed most since 1990
White share76.0% → 64.4%(−11.6 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Population136,025 → 220,197(+62%)US over the same years: +35%
Among the 37 metro and micro areas based in Georgia
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)19.3%(1,679)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)23.3%(2,025)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era40.2%(3,495)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.5%(389)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.5%(131)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 8,697 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
Over time
Athens, decade by decade
Athens population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
136,025
$56,470
$164,695
30.3%
45.3
2000
166,079
$62,688
$189,496
33.5%
55.8
2010
192,541
$61,158
$238,680
35.4%
62.0
2020
215,415
$64,652
$242,207
40.9%
66.6
2024
220,197
$69,695
$314,999
43.8%
64.4
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
