Athens, GA — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 126,987 · Georgia · Updated May 2026
Population
126,987
Median Income
$51,655
Home Price
$341,821
Unemployment
5.2%
Poverty Rate
26.3%
Bachelor's+
48.7%
Full Demographics — Athens, GA
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Athens, GA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 126,987 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 29.2 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 9.8% | 13.8% | |
| White | 57.6% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 26.2% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 4.3% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 11.5% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Athens, GA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $51,655 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $31,836 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $57,405 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 26.3% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 48.7% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Athens, GA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $341,821 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.5% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Athens, GA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 392 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1752 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Athens, GA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | N/A | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | N/A | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | N/A | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | N/A | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | N/A | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | N/A | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Athens, GA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 62.6°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 46.3 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Athens, GA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.8 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Athens, GA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 22.3 min | 27.0 min |
Compare Athens with Another City
Popular Comparisons
About Athens, GA
Athens is a city in Georgia, United States. With a population of 126,987, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Athens shows stronger educational attainment (48.7% bachelor's degree vs 35.8% bachelor's degree US avg) and commute time (22 min average commute vs 27 min average commute US avg). However, the city has a higher household income at $51,655 median HH income, compared to the US average of $74,580 median HH income. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.