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Athens, AL

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Athens, AL

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 50
Population27,474
Foreign Born3.0%
Population Density656people per mi²
Median Age41.6 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

79/100

21% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Athens, Alabama

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $13k$25k
Comfortable $49k$72k
Luxury $117k+$182k+
Elite (Top 5%) $160k+$249k+
Affordability Ratio

90%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean87%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
10
Negative
4

Groceries

1 within 10 miles

1.2mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

0.4mi

Airport

Pryor Field Regional Airport/Pryor Flight Center

10mi

Post Office

USPS — Madison, AL

15.4mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

Nearest private club or country club.

Golf1Nearest 7.6 mi
Camping20Nearest 20.4 mi
Marina0Nearest 11.7 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range1Nearest 8.5 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$65k+13.2%
14% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$281k
57% below US avg
College Educated
30.8%
12% below US avg
WFH
6.5%
55% below US avg
Homeownership
63.3%
3% below US avg
Median Home
$254k
10% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B+
Safe

Generally safer than 74% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
20.3
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+60.5%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+84.3%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.09 / 1k Residents71% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.36 / 1k Residents51% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr+36.7%
Burglary
3.56 / 1k Residents66% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
14.09 / 1k Residents30% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.10 / 1k Residents31% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+15Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Athens, Alabama
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%200020042008

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B-
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Weak9.8% of income
Property Rights
D
WeakIJ Grade D
Firearm Rights
A-
GreatFPC Grade A-
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (45% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
F
ProhibitedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season235 days323 frost-free
Annual Rainfall66.3"
Elevation725 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B-
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
B+
Good816 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak656/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B-
Fair5 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
D-
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 620 mi · coast 290 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$47.6M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityNashville689k people are 95 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital173 miMontgomery, AL
Nearest Prison9.4 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T18:42:49.000Z

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