Median Age
26 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 45% of Residents
Under 20
20%
Over 65
8%
Avg Rent
$940
Population
20,876
Renter Mix
69% Rent
Situated along the Hocking River in southeastern Ohio, Athens is a small college town nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Athens is home to Ohio University, which contributes an array of cultural and sporting events to the community. Athens is supportive of Ohio University as well, rallying behind the Bobcats and attending various festivals.
Among the many popular festivals in Athens are the Halloween Block Party, Blackout Fest, Ohio Brew Week, and Boogie on the Bricks. Athens boasts a small-town feel evident in the cafes, restaurants, shops, and bars strewn along brick streets in the historic downtown area. Opportunities for outdoor recreation are plentiful in Athens, with numerous parks, trails, and access to the Hocking River in town. Athens is also convenient to Strouds Run State Park, Wayne National Forest, Zaleski State Forest, and Hocking Hills State Park. Columbus is just an hour’s drive away from Athens too. Getting around from Athens is easy with access to U.S. 33.
Median Household Income
$33,749
Average: $60,504
Education
8,741
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
9,423
Workers Employed
Median Age
26 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 45% of Residents
Under 20
20%
Over 65
8%
Housing Distribution
Athens has more renters than homeowners.
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Athens, OH is $941 for a studio, $940 for one bedroom, $1,192 for two bedrooms, and $1,473 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Athens has increased by 2.5% in the past year.
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Athens, OH is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
Public
Grades PK-5
401 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
330 Students
Public
Grades K-5
195 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
357 Students
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.