City · Tennessee
Athens, Tennessee
Athens, city, in McMinn County, Tennessee. Athens had 15,263 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 8.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 14,084 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 14,471 (±36). GEOID 4702320.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
15,263
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 14,084 · ACS 2020-2024: 14,471 ±36
Median household income
$53,929
±$7,727 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$225,000
±$18,144 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$846
±$92 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
Where is Athens and what county is it in?
Athens is a city in McMinn County, Tennessee. It covers 15.6 square miles of land, 905 residents per square mile in 2020.
Athens is in the Athens, TN micropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Athens, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 15,263 people lived in Athens on July 1, 2025, up 8.3% since 2020, faster than Tennessee (+5.8%). The 2020 Census counted 14,084 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 14,471 (±36).
| Measure | Athens | McMinn County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 14,471 ±36 | 54,884 | +620 |
| Households | 5,874 ±313 | 21,218 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.30 ±0.12 | 2.53 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,669 ±350 | 24,137 | +715 |
Athens's population since 2000
From 13,220 in 2000 to 15,263 in 2025: up 15.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Athens as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Athens?
The median resident of Athens is 39.0 years old; 21.1% are under 18 and 17.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.7%. 4.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Athens | McMinn County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 ±3.9 | 42.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.1% ±2.1 pts | 21.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.9% ±2.4 pts | 20.3% | – |
| Male | 49.2% ±2.4 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.7% ±2.4 pts | 4.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 76.9% ±3.7 pts | 85.8% | −4.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.4% ±1.3 pts | 3.2% | −2.9 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±0.6 pts | 0.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.6% ±2.8 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.0% ±1.6 pts | 2.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.9% ±2.5 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.0% ±1.6 pts | 8.3% | – |
| With a disability | 16.7% ±2.2 pts | 18.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.5% ±2.2 pts | 9.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.7% ±3.2 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.2% ±4.2 pts | 18.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.6% ±2.4 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 84.5% ±3.5 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.9% ±1.0 pts | 2.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Athens earn?
Half of Athens's 5,874 households earn less than $53,929 a year (±$7,727), against $61,470 in McMinn County and $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 the median was $39,275 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $14,654 after inflation. 17.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Athens | McMinn County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,929 ±$7,727 | $61,470 | +$14,654 |
| Mean household income | $73,845 ±$7,036 | $81,692 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,458 ±$2,528 | $32,494 | +$5,831 |
| People below the poverty line | 17.0% ±3.5 pts | 13.0% | −11.3 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 23.9% ±8.7 pts | 17.4% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 17.7% ±3.7 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.3% ±1.7 pts | 92.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.1% ±2.3 pts | 87.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Athens?
Owners occupy 59.9% of Athens's occupied homes and renters 40.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $225,000 by its owner (±$18,144). The median renter pays $846 a month including utilities, and 38.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Athens | McMinn County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $225,000 ±$18,144 | $211,800 | +$41,873 |
| Median gross rent | $846 ±$92 | $803 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.5% ±7.0 pts | 36.4% | −12.1 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,256 ±$88 | $1,192 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 59.9% ±5.1 pts | 75.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 40.1% ±5.1 pts | 24.2% | – |
| Housing units | 6,669 ±350 | 24,137 | +715 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.2% ±1.7 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.0% ±3.2 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.0% ±4.0 pts | 73.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.1% ±1.6 pts | 16.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1% ±0.9 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.9% ±1.8 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.5% ±2.6 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.9% ±2.1 pts | 4.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Athens building?
Builders took permits for 43 new housing units in Athens in 2025 (25 in single-family houses), 2.8 per 1,000 residents against 5.9 across Tennessee.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Athens work and get to work?
81.9% of Athens's workers drive alone and 4.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.2%.
| Measure | Athens | McMinn County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.4% ±3.5 pts | 56.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.2% ±2.3 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 81.9% ±4.7 pts | 84.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.5% ±3.1 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 2.3% ±1.3 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.9% ±2.4 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.7 min ±2.4 | 24.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Athens?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Athens, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $31,644 (Tract 9702.01) to $80,302 (Tract 9704.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9703McMinn County | 3,698 | $52,560 |
| Tract 9702.02McMinn County | 3,714 | $51,091 |
| Tract 9704.02McMinn County | 5,208 | $80,302 |
| Tract 9704.01McMinn County | 4,328 | $80,556 |
| Tract 9702.01McMinn County | 2,250 | $31,644 |
| Tract 9701.02McMinn County | 5,031 | $59,055 |
| Tract 9701.03McMinn County | 3,403 | $72,150 |
| Tract 9701.04McMinn County | 3,276 | $62,292 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Athens) · Census block assignment files
How does Athens compare with other places in Tennessee?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Athens is the 2,380th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 42nd-most populous of 345 in Tennessee.
Athens ranks 166th of 287 places in Tennessee with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 42nd | 345 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 54th | 230 |
| Residents per square mile | 89th | 289 |
| Median household income | 166th | 287 |
| Per capita income | 141st | 289 |
| Median home value | 130th | 285 |
| Median gross rent | 152nd | 265 |
| Poverty rate | 107th | 239 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 111th | 276 |
| Median age | 172nd | 289 |
| Owner-occupied share | 200th | 289 |
| Work from home | 159th | 167 |
| Travel time to work | 219th | 288 |
Athens's figures with every place in Tennessee (CSV)
Every place in Tennessee, sortable · Compare Athens with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Athens?
7 of the 57 figures for Athens on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Athens are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Athens.