Athens, Alabama Housing Market Prices
Athens Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 18% above the Alabama median$188,577
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Median rent 12% below the Alabama median$886
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Athens | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $188,577 | $160,474 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 4.0% | 6.3% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $886 | $1,007 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 4.7% | 4.2% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Athens is about 18% higher than in Alabama. Rent is about 12% lower than the Alabama average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Athens, up about 4.0% and 4.7% a year respectively. Rent is changing faster.
Median rent in Athens rose about 45.2% between 2015 and 2024, from $610 to $886. Over the same span, rent in Alabama rose about 40.5%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 3.0 yearly household incomes in Athens.
Buying the median-priced home in Athens costs roughly 17.7 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Athens. The price-to-rent ratio in Alabama is about 13.3.
| Metric | Athens | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $188,577 | $160,474 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $62,361 | $64,544 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 3.0 | 2.5 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Athens rose about 36.2%, while median household income rose about 56.6% between 2009 and 2025 — income grew faster than the home price.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Athens | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 60.0% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 36.1% | 25.5% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 9.0% | 14.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 12.0 | 16.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2014 | 2010 | 2011 |
Athens has a homeownership rate of 54.9%, lower than the Alabama average of 60.0%. Its housing vacancy rate is 9.0%, compared with 14.5% in Alabama.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Athens | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.42 people | 2.48 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1985 | 1985 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Athens was built around 1985. On average, 2.4 people live in a home with about 5.8 rooms, staying for about 12.0 years on average.
Athens, AL Housing Compared With Nearby Cities
How Athens, AL compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, AL | 24,253 | $188,577 #3/3 | $886 #3/3 | 60.3% #3/3 |
| Madison, AL | 50,327 | $355,055 | $1,426 | 70.7% |
| Decatur, AL | 52,492 | $225,071 | $902 | 62.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Athens, Alabama.
What is the median home price in Athens, Alabama?
The median home price in Athens, Alabama is $188,577, higher than the Alabama average of $160,474.
What is the average home price in Athens, Alabama?
The typical home price in Athens, Alabama, reported as the median sale price, is $188,577. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Athens, Alabama?
The median gross rent in Athens, Alabama is $886 per month, lower than the Alabama average of $1,007.
What was the median gross rent in Athens in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Athens, Alabama was $658 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Athens, Alabama?
The price-to-rent ratio in Athens, Alabama is about 17.7, meaning it would take roughly 17.7 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Athens.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Athens, Alabama?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Athens, up about 4.0% and 4.7% a year respectively. Rent is changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Athens, Alabama?
54.9% of households in Athens, Alabama own their home, lower than the Alabama average of 60.0%.
What is the vacancy rate in Athens, Alabama?
The housing vacancy rate in Athens, Alabama is 9.0%, lower than the Alabama average of 14.5%.
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