Athens, Georgia, known as the "Classic City," is a vibrant college town with a rich history and a lively cultural scene. Located in the northeastern part of the state, Athens is home to the University of Georgia, which significantly influences the city's atmosphere and economy. The combination of historic charm, academic excellence, and cultural diversity makes living in Athens an attractive place to live.
Residents of Athens enjoy a variety of recreational activities and cultural events. The city is renowned for its music scene, particularly for its contributions to alternative rock, and hosts numerous music festivals and live performances throughout the year. The Georgia Theatre, 40 Watt Club, and other local venues are iconic spots for experiencing live music and entertainment.
Athens offers a range of outdoor recreational opportunities, with numerous parks, trails, and green spaces available for residents to enjoy. The State Botanical Garden of Georgia and Sandy Creek Park are popular destinations for hiking, picnicking, and appreciating the natural beauty of the area. The city's commitment to preserving its green spaces enhances the quality of life for its residents.
The cost of living in Athens is relatively affordable, making it an attractive option for families, students, and young professionals. The housing market includes a variety of options, from historic homes in charming neighborhoods to modern apartments and condos. The presence of the University of Georgia supports a robust rental market and a dynamic community of students and academics.
Public transportation in Athens is provided by Athens Transit, which operates bus routes throughout the city and the university campus. The city's layout is pedestrian-friendly, with many amenities and attractions within walking distance. Athens' climate features hot summers and mild winters, allowing for year-round outdoor activities. Overall, Athens offers a unique blend of academic excellence, cultural vibrancy, and southern hospitality.
Amenities
An abundance of amenities, including restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores and fitness facilities, are conveniently situated within walking distance of the area.
Commute
High commute scores indicates that public transit should be easily accessible in this area and the average commute time to work is less than average.
Cost Of Living
The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.
Schools
Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.
Athens, Georgia is a moderately-sized city with a population of 128,427 people. The median age of all Athens residents is 28, which is well below the national average. This is a good indication that this city could be ideal for a younger demographic. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Athens, only 36% of the population is married. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Athens offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 20 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Athens could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Georgia if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, crime, cost of living, you can easily compare the best places to live in Athens and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Athens to Georgia and the national average.
With a livability score of 80 out of 100, Athens is ranked #1,431 in the United States and #10 in Georgia. This is a great score, as Athens ranks well in multiple categories! Athens has also earned the rare honor of ranking in the top 10 percentile among all cities. There are nine total categories that form the livability score. Athens scores well for cost of living (A) and housing (A-) There is at least one category that does not have great scores in Athens. The following was graded with a less than perfect score: crime (D), education (F) and employment (D-).
If you're living in Athens, you can expect to enjoy a multitude of local amenities, mostly thanks to the strategic placement of essential services such as grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks and various shops. If you're contemplating a move to this locale with the intent of establishing it as your permanent residence, you'll be pleased to find an extensive array of amenities and recreational opportunities within easy reach, either on foot or via a brief commute. This wealth of accessible amenities not only enhances the livability of the area but also ensures that you can enjoy a rich and fulfilling lifestyle, making Athens an attractive destination for those seeking a vibrant and well-served community to call home.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Athens excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
Assuming that Athens meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Athens. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Athens are simply unattainable. The median home price for Athens homes is $330,030, which is 18.7% higher than the Georgia average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Athens, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 5.5, which is 48.6% higher than the Georgia average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Athens | Georgia | National |
| Average one way commute | 20min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 72.5% | 79.6% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.4% | 10.1% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 3.4% | 2.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 1.3% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 5.3% | 1.6% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 7.9% | 5.1% | 4.6% |
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