CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Athens Metro

Athens-Clarke County, GA · 4 counties · 215,415 residents · 1,025.028 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Athens has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $53,341. Population has grown 30% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $199,834. At a median age of 33.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 20.7% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 33.3
US median: 38.8
More educated
41% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
215,415
+30%since 2000
from 166,079 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
210 / sq mi
+30%since 2000
from 162 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
33.3
+13%since 2000
from 29.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
128K153K178K203K229K1990201020202024Athens
2024220K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,341
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,413 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,910
+64%since 2000
from $18,211 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
35.0%
+10.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
20.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 21.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade8.6%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$199,834
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $104,024 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$885
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $528 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
55.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 57.1% in 2000
44.3% rent
Afford Score
3.7
+24%since 2000
from 3.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic65.2%(140,539)
Black17.8%(38,265)
Hispanic / Latino9.1%(19,508)
Asian3.5%(7,641)
Other2.5%(5,440)
Diversity Score64.3%(138,609)
Segregation Score35.7%(76,936)
Diversity Score
64
+19%since 2000
from 54 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
36
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
40.9%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 33.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
89.3%
+9.6 ptssince 2000
from 79.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
20.7%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.5 min
+54%since 2000
from 14.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
76.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 7.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
62.0%
+2.5 ptssince 2011
from 59.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
42.7%
−23.4 ptssince 2009
from 66.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
7.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.5%
−71.6 ptssince 2013
from 83.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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$69,952+31%
Home value$328,900+65%
Population217,212−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ATHENS VS
Jacksonville
Income$68,148+28%
Home value$236,400+18%
Population217,175−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ATHENS VS
Panama City
Income$71,687+34%
Home value$293,695+47%
Population231,174+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ATHENS VS
Columbia
Income$72,269+35%
Home value$262,026+31%
Population219,062−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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

Athens-Clarke County, GA has about 215,415 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Athens-Clarke County, GA earns about $53,341 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 $199,834, and the typical rent is about $885 a month.

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

About 40.9% 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 20.7% 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 79,390 residents, a change of about 58 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Athens with another metro

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

How we source and harmonize this data →