The Town FilesAthens, Pennsylvania
Borough in Bradford County · population 3,267 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,200
- Household income
- $53,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 47.0
Athens is a borough of 3,267 people in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $167,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 95% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 88% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 84% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Athens ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Athens is worth $167,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $53,000, which is more affordable than 33% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $842 a month. 40.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Athens | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,200 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $842 | $996 |
| Median household income | $53,000 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 40.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Athens
| People | Athens | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Athens
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 36.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.0 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Athens since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 2, 1983 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 28, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 6, 2012.
Severe weather in Bradford County since 1996
Bradford County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| December 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4292: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Bradford County
Bradford County had 22,333 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,112 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Athens itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Towns near Athens
- Athens, PA2.6 mi · 5,184 people · home $208,300
- Sayre, PA3.4 mi · 5,461 people · home $169,500
- Waverly, NY5.4 mi · 4,373 people · home $140,200
- Barton, NY10.1 mi · 8,609 people · home $141,000
- Towanda, PA12.0 mi · 2,798 people · home $166,900
- Tioga, NY13.8 mi · 4,440 people · home $125,300
- Owego, NY17.3 mi · 3,654 people · home $147,300
- Elmira, NY17.4 mi · 6,848 people · home $187,900
Athens questions
Is Athens, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Athens scores better for retirees than 88% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 25%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.0).
How much does a house cost in Athens?
The median owner-occupied home in Athens is valued at $167,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,000, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $842 a month.
What is the weather like in Athens?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.8 inches of precipitation a year and 35.0 inches of snow.
Does Athens get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Athens since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 2, 1983. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- 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)