The Town FilesAthens, Illinois
City in Menard County · population 1,977 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,000
- Household income
- $81,192
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 34.7
Athens is a city of 1,977 people in Menard County, Illinois. The median home is worth $164,000, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 84% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 73% of Illinois towns.
How Athens ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Athens is worth $164,000, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $81,192, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $855 a month. 72.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Athens | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $855 | $960 |
| Median household income | $81,192 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Athens
| People | Athens | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Athens
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 17.5°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Athens since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on December 31, 2010 about 5.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 32 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 8, 2020.
Severe weather in Menard County since 1996
Menard County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 13, 2021 | Tornado | EM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Menard County
Menard County had 1,773 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,242 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Athens itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Athens
2 public schools with 469 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Sr High School | 9-12 | 321 | 14.0 |
| Athens Junior High School | 7-8 | 148 | 18.5 |
Towns near Athens
- Lake Petersburg, IL7.3 mi · 740 people · home $338,700
- Petersburg, IL7.5 mi · 2,258 people · home $177,700
- Sherman, IL7.9 mi · 4,673 people · home $297,800
- Greenview, IL8.6 mi · 745 people · home $93,700
- Williamsville, IL9.4 mi · 1,425 people · home $199,300
- Grandview, IL11.4 mi · 1,405 people · home $71,500
- Spaulding, IL11.5 mi · 801 people · home $220,500
- Pleasant Plains, IL12.1 mi · 808 people · home $169,000
Athens questions
Is Athens, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Athens scores better for retirees than 49% of Illinois towns and quieter than 67%. 11.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Athens?
The median owner-occupied home in Athens is valued at $164,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,192, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $855 a month.
What is the weather like in Athens?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 17.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 15.2 inches of snow.
Does Athens get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Athens since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on December 31, 2010. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)