The Town FilesAthena, Oregon
City in Umatilla County · population 1,209 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $239,200
- Household income
- $71,898
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 36.7
Athena is a city of 1,209 people in Umatilla County, Oregon. The median home is worth $239,200, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Oregon towns, easier by car than 91% of Oregon towns, quieter than 85% of Oregon towns.
How Athena ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Athena is worth $239,200, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $71,898, which is more affordable than 94% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $894 a month. 79.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Athena | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $239,200 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $894 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $71,898 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 79.1% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Athena
| People | Athena | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.9% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.5% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 17.1% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 92.4% |
Weather in Athena
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 26.7°F. About 17.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.9 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Athena since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 6, 2009 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 6, 2009.
Severe weather in Umatilla County since 1996
Umatilla County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2026 | Fire | FM-5664: Hagen Fire |
| July 16, 2026 | Fire | FM-5645: Lower Dry Creek Fire |
| January 1, 2025 | Fire | DR-4854: Wildfires |
| July 21, 2024 | Fire | FM-5514: Battle Mountain Fire Complex |
| April 3, 2020 | Flood | DR-4519: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Umatilla County
Umatilla County had 33,030 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,594 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Athena itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Athena
2 public schools with 343 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weston-McEwen High School | 9-12 | 208 | 12.2 |
| Athena Elementary School | PK-3 | 135 | 13.5 |
Towns near Athena
- Weston, OR3.2 mi · 706 people · home $135,900
- Milton-Freewater, OR9.7 mi · 7,151 people · home $240,000
- Mission, OR13.6 mi · 960 people · home $215,600
- College Place, WA16.5 mi · 9,902 people · home $366,600
- Garrett, WA17.5 mi · 1,771 people · home $372,000
- Pendleton, OR18.4 mi · 17,107 people · home $287,100
- Walla Walla East, WA18.5 mi · 2,286 people · home $607,900
- Walla Walla, WA19.1 mi · 34,060 people · home $393,600
Athena questions
Is Athena, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Athena scores better for retirees than 58% of Oregon towns and quieter than 85%. 10.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Athena?
The median owner-occupied home in Athena is valued at $239,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,898, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $894 a month.
What is the weather like in Athena?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 26.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.2 inches of precipitation a year and 14.9 inches of snow.
Does Athena get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Athena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 6, 2009. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- 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)