Athens

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Athens, OH Area Guide

Avg Rent

$940

Population

20,876

Renter Mix

69% Rent

Delight in this college town’s many charms

Suburban Family-Friendly Riverside Active College Town Modern Historic Welcoming Quaint

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.

Demographics

Median Household Income

$33,749

Average: $60,504

Education

8,741

Residents Have a Degree

Job Market

9,423

Workers Employed

Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.

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.

Renters
69%
Non-Renters
31%

Education Distribution

Review this city's overall education levels.

Bachelor's or Higher
30%
Other Education
70%

Rent Trends

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.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$940/month
612 Sq Ft
House
$980/month
1,440 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Athens, OH

Getting Around

Somewhat Walkable

Walkability

30 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Fairly Bikeable

Bikeability

50 / 100

Schools

Morrison Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

401 Students

East Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

330 Students

West Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

195 Students

Athens Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

357 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Strouds Run State Park
  • Wayne National Forest-Athens District

Top Apartments in Athens

Houses for Rent in Athens

Property Management Companies in Athens, OH

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Methodology

† 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.