Below Average CostHigher than AverageMcMinn County
Mcminn-county-courthouse1 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Samuel-cleage-house-tn2 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Tennessee-wesleyan-college-tn1 · Brian Stansberry (photographer) / CC BY 3.0
Athens is a small city of 14,091 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $50,150
and a 5.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Athens stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, 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: 90.8
Athens's overall cost of living index is 90.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Athens costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Athens, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$182,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$795
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
57.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,150
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Athens's violent crime rate is 622.1 per 100,000 residents
— 64% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
622.1 /100k
Property Crime
3665.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Athens is served primarily by McMinn County.
Metric
Athens, TN
National Avg
School District
McMinn County
—
Elementary Schools
7
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Athens sees average highs of 48.6°F in January
and 88.4°F in July,
with 60.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 3.6 inches of snow per year.
Athens's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Athens roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $182,100 and median rent is $795/month.
Athens's violent crime rate is 622.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3665.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Athens are operated by McMinn County.
The district has 7 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools.
23.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Athens, TN has a population of 14,091, a median household income of $50,150, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%.
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 averages 48.6°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 60.4 inches
with about 3.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Athens, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 37303.
The population of Athens, Tennessee is 14,091 with a median age of 41.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Athens: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $182,100, median household income $50,150, crime index 168 (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.
