The Town FilesAthens, Ohio
City in Athens County · population 23,849 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $247,000
- Household income
- $38,204
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 21.6
Athens is a city of 23,849 people in Athens County, Ohio. The median home is worth $247,000, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Ohio towns, hipper than 99% of Ohio towns, better for cycling than 99% of Ohio towns.
How Athens ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Athens is worth $247,000, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 6.5 times the median household income of $38,204, which is more affordable than 0% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,011 a month. 32.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Athens | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,000 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,011 | $914 |
| Median household income | $38,204 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.5× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 32.6% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Athens
| People | Athens | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.6 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 6.3% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 8.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.1% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 40.0% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.6% | — |
| Work from home | 20.2% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 16.2 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 90.9% |
Weather in Athens
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 41.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.6 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Athens since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on September 16, 2010 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 26, 2019.
Severe weather in Athens County since 1996
Athens County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| April 8, 2019 | Flood | DR-4424: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| April 17, 2018 | Flood | DR-4360: Severe Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 20, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4077: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Athens County
Athens County had 21,207 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,117 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Athens itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Athens
3 public schools with 1,081 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrison Gordon Elementary School | PK-3 | 387 | 18.4 |
| Athens Middle School | 7-8 | 360 | 11.6 |
| East Elementary School | PK-3 | 334 | 13.9 |
Towns near Athens
- The Plains, OH3.2 mi · 3,140 people · home $233,500
- Nelsonville, OH11.3 mi · 4,612 people · home $99,200
- Logan, OH21.9 mi · 7,296 people · home $159,600
- Blennerhassett, WV25.6 mi · 3,118 people · home $179,800
- Belpre, OH27.3 mi · 6,728 people · home $159,000
- Wellston, OH27.5 mi · 5,412 people · home $124,000
- New Lexington, OH27.6 mi · 4,435 people · home $113,800
Athens questions
Is Athens, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Athens scores better for retirees than 8% of Ohio towns and quieter than 2%. 6.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 21.6).
How much does a house cost in Athens?
The median owner-occupied home in Athens is valued at $247,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,204, so homes cost about 6.5 times income. Median rent is $1,011 a month.
What is the weather like in Athens?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.6 inches of precipitation a year and 17.6 inches of snow.
Does Athens get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Athens since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on September 16, 2010. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)