Median Age
37 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
27%
Over 65
19%
Athens
Athens, TX Area Guide
Avg Rent
$950
Population
12,149
Renter Mix
44% Rent
Savor small-town delights near Dallas and Tyler
Suburban
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Scenic
•
Diverse
•
Welcoming
•
Affordable
•
Walkable
•
Laidback
•
Historic
•
Family-Friendly
•
Convenient
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Situated between Dallas and Tyler in Henderson County, Athens is the self-proclaimed “Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World” for its historically large production of black-eyed peas. Athens is also known as “The Home of the Original Hamburger.”
With such a colorful history, Athens embraces its past while moving towards the future with a variety of special events like the Black-Eyed Pea Jamboree, Uncle Fletch Davis Hamburger Festival, and the annual Texas Fiddlers Contest and Reunion.
Athens offers residents the charm of a small town with convenience to the amenities of a larger city. Downtown Athens is teeming with eclectic shops and galleries in addition to a craft brewery and a history museum. Athens also hosts a seasonal Farmer’s Market.
Athens contains plenty of family-friendly destinations like the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society, and Athens Scuba Park. Multiple wineries and vineyards are convenient to Athens as well as several lakes and reservoirs.
Explore the City
Restaurants fill up on Fridays in Athens.
Lake Athens is a popular spot for recreation in Athens.
Art is everywhere in Athens.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$46,109
Average: $67,873
Education
2,087
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
5,013
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Athens has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
44%
Non-Renters
56%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
13%
Other Education
87%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Athens, TX is $794 for a studio, $950 for one bedroom, $1,212 for two bedrooms, and $1,186 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Athens has increased by 3.7% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$950/month
578 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Athens, TX is 11.3% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Athens is 29.9% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $794 - $1,212. You can expect to pay 5.2% less for groceries, 1.9% more for utilities, and 7.4% less for transportation.
Compare Cities
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Athens, TX is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
20
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Not Bikeable
Bikeability
10
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
453 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
587 Students
South Athens Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
449 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
682 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
682 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
928 Students
School data provided by
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
© 2026. All rights reserved.
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
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- East Texas Arboretum & Botanical Society
- Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center
Airports
- Tyler Pounds Regional
Top Apartments in Athens
Houses for Rent in Athens
Search Nearby Rentals
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.