What are the schools like in Athens, PA?

Athens is served primarily by Athens Area SD. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.8:1.

What is the median household income in Athens?

The median household income in Athens, PA is $48,503 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.5%.

What is the weather like in Athens, PA?

Athens has an average high temperature of 34.4°F in January and 83.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Athens, PA affordable or expensive?

Athens's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Athens is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $146,300 and the median rent is $791 per month.

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

Athens has a violent crime rate of 93.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1211.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Athens, PA a Good Place to Live?

Athens is a small town of 3,270 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $48,503 and a 3.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% 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 (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 93.2

Athens's overall cost of living index is 93.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Athens costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Athens, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$146,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$791	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	42.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$48,503	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Athens's violent crime rate is 93.2 per 100,000 residents — 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

93.2 /100k

Property Crime

1211.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Athens is served primarily by Athens Area SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Athens, PA	National Avg
School District	Athens Area SD	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Athens sees average highs of 34.4°F in January and 83.4°F in July, with 36.8 inches of annual precipitation and 35.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Athens, PA
Average High — January	34.4°F
Average High — July	83.4°F
Annual Precipitation	36.8"
Annual Snowfall	35.0"

Demographics

Metric	Athens, PA	National Avg
Population	3,270	—
Median Age	48.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.6%	18.9%
Asian	2.6%	6.3%
Under 18	18.9%	22.2%
65 and over	23.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Greens Landing, PA 2 mi Sayre, PA 3 mi South Waverly, PA 4 mi Waverly, NY 5 mi Nichols, NY 9 mi

Athens vs Other Cities

Athens, PA vs Greens Landing, PA Athens, PA vs Sayre, PA Athens, PA vs South Waverly, PA Athens, PA vs Waverly, NY Athens, PA vs Nichols, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Athens, PA affordable or expensive?

Athens's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Athens roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $146,300 and median rent is $791/month.

What is the crime rate in Athens, PA?

Athens's violent crime rate is 93.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1211.6 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 Area SD. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 23.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Athens, PA a good place to live?

Athens, PA has a population of 3,270, a median household income of $48,503, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. 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 34.4°F in January and 83.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.8 inches with about 35.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Athens?

The population of Athens, Pennsylvania is 3,270 with a median age of 48.6. 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 93 (100 = US average), median home $146,300, median household income $48,503, crime index 38 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. 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.