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.
Employment
A low score in the employment category could indicate that this area struggles with high unemployment rates and low household income and income per capita levels.
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 is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Georgia. The city has a population of 124,962 inhabitants. If you are a young adult or student, you might be pleased to know that the average age of all Athens residents is 28. Athens is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 36% married, this city falls well below the national average. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Athens will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 20 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.
Are you trying to decide if living in Athens is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a positive experience before moving to any new city in Georgia, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. With useful information like amenities, cost of living, commute, employment, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Athens and in the areas around Athens is a much easier task.
Athens has a livability score of 78/100 and is ranked #14 in Georgia and #1,699 in the USA. This is a phenomenal score, as Athens ranks well in multiple categories! Another exciting tidbit, is that Athens ranks better than 90% of all US cities! If we explore each of the categories individually, we see that Athens ranks well for cost of living (A+) and housing (B-). There is at least one category that you should be aware of in Athens. The following was graded with a disappointing score: crime (F), education (F) and employment (F).
Living in Athens offers many benefits and offers an extensive array of local amenities. These amenities play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life in this vibrant community. From readily accessible grocery stores to charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and generously spaced parks, Athens provides a wide spectrum of resources for its residents. This ensures that your daily requirements are effortlessly met and creates abundant opportunities for leisure and recreation. The abundant local offerings contribute to the area's overall appeal, making it an attractive destination for those seeking convenience, variety and a fulfilling lifestyle. If you're considering a move, the wealth of local amenities continues could be a defining feature of this remarkable locale.
Finding affordable real estate and housing in Athens can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Athens is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Athens come in at $186,200, which is 22.2% higher than the Georgia average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Athens, the home price to income ratio is 4.7, which is 56.7% higher than the Georgia average.
| 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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