What are the schools like in Athens, OH?

Athens is served primarily by Athens City School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.1:1.

What is the median household income in Athens?

The median household income in Athens, OH is $34,493 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.5%.

What is the weather like in Athens, OH?

Athens has an average high temperature of 38.0°F in January and 82.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 17.6 inches.

Athens, OH Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Athens, OH affordable or expensive?

Athens's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Athens is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $232,200 and the median rent is $981 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Athens, OH?

Athens has a violent crime rate of 95.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 964.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Athens, OH a Good Place to Live?

Athens is a small city of 22,698 in Ohio, with a median household income of $34,493 and a 7.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

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

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

All Athens 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: 94.4

Athens's overall cost of living index is 94.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Athens costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Athens, OH	National Avg
Median Home Value	$232,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$981	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	32.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$34,493	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Athens's violent crime rate is 95.6 per 100,000 residents — 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

95.6 /100k

Property Crime

964.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Athens is served primarily by Athens City School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Athens, OH	National Avg
School District	Athens City School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	66.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Athens sees average highs of 38.0°F in January and 82.4°F in July, with 41.6 inches of annual precipitation and 17.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Athens, OH
Average High — January	38.0°F
Average High — July	82.4°F
Annual Precipitation	41.6"
Annual Snowfall	17.6"

Demographics

Metric	Athens, OH	National Avg
Population	22,698	—
Median Age	21.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.8%	18.9%
Asian	6.0%	6.3%
Under 18	7.3%	22.2%
65 and over	5.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

The Plains, OH 3 mi Chauncey, OH 5 mi New Marshfield, OH 6 mi Millfield, OH 8 mi Albany, OH 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Athens

Athens, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code:

45701

Athens vs Other Cities

Athens, OH vs The Plains, OH Athens, OH vs Chauncey, OH Athens, OH vs New Marshfield, OH Athens, OH vs Millfield, OH Athens, OH vs Albany, OH

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Athens, OH affordable or expensive?

Athens's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Athens roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $232,200 and median rent is $981/month.

What is the crime rate in Athens, OH?

Athens's violent crime rate is 95.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 964.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Athens?

Public schools in Athens are operated by Athens City School District. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 66.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Athens, OH a good place to live?

Athens, OH has a population of 22,698, a median household income of $34,493, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%. 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.

What is the weather like in Athens?

Athens averages 38.0°F in January and 82.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.6 inches with about 17.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Athens?

Athens, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code: 45701.

What is the population of Athens?

The population of Athens, Ohio is 22,698 with a median age of 21.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Athens?

Key numbers for living in Athens: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $232,200, median household income $34,493, crime index 33 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Athens side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.