Median Income
$47,798
household / year
Median Home Value
$242,300
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,045
gross / month
Cost of Living
93
national avg = 100

Is Athens-Clarke County, GA a Good Place to Live?

Athens-Clarke County is a mid-sized city of 126,672 in Georgia, with a median household income of $47,798 and a 5.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Athens-Clarke County stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Athens-Clarke County is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Athens-Clarke County city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 93.3

Athens-Clarke County's overall cost of living index is 93.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Athens-Clarke County costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric Athens-Clarke County, GA National Avg
Median Home Value $242,300 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,045 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 40.6% 65.9%
Median Household Income $47,798 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Athens-Clarke County's violent crime rate is 406.1 per 100,000 residents — 7% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
406.1 /100k
Property Crime
2276.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Athens-Clarke County is served primarily by Clarke County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Athens-Clarke County, GA National Avg
School District Clarke County —
Elementary Schools 14 —
Middle Schools 4 —
High Schools 3 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 10.2:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 48.0% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 89.8% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Athens-Clarke County sees average highs of 54.7°F in January and 92.0°F in July, with 49.0 inches of annual precipitation and 0.6 inches of snow per year.

MetricAthens-Clarke County, GA
Average High — January54.7°F
Average High — July92.0°F
Annual Precipitation49.0"
Annual Snowfall0.6"

Demographics

MetricAthens-Clarke County, GANational Avg
Population126,672—
Median Age28.738.9
Unemployment Rate5.4%3.7%
Avg Commute Time21.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)58.9%59.3%
Black or African American26.7%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino6.9%18.9%
Asian4.1%6.3%
Under 1816.7%22.2%
65 and over11.5%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Winterville, GA 5 mi Hull, GA 6 mi Watkinsville, GA 7 mi Arnoldsville, GA 9 mi Bogart, GA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Athens-Clarke County

Athens-Clarke County, GA is covered by 8 ZIP codes:

30605 30606 30601 30607 30683 30622 30602 30609

Athens-Clarke County vs Other Cities

Athens-Clarke County, GA vs Winterville, GA Athens-Clarke County, GA vs Hull, GA Athens-Clarke County, GA vs Watkinsville, GA Athens-Clarke County, GA vs Arnoldsville, GA Athens-Clarke County, GA vs Bogart, GA

Frequently Asked Questions

Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Athens-Clarke County roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $242,300 and median rent is $1,045/month.
Athens-Clarke County's violent crime rate is 406.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2276.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Athens-Clarke County are operated by Clarke County. The district has 14 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.2:1. 48.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Athens-Clarke County, GA has a population of 126,672, a median household income of $47,798, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Athens-Clarke County averages 54.7°F in January and 92.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.0 inches with about 0.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Athens-Clarke County, GA is covered by 8 ZIP codes: 30605, 30606, 30601, 30607, 30683, 30622, 30602, 30609.
The population of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia is 126,672 with a median age of 28.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Athens-Clarke County: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $242,300, median household income $47,798, crime index 107 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Athens-Clarke County side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.