The Town FilesAthens, Tennessee
City in McMinn County · population 14,084 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,000
- Household income
- $53,929
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 39.0
Athens is a city of 14,084 people in McMinn County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $225,000, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more vibrant than 82% of Tennessee towns, easier by car than 79% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 77% of Tennessee towns.
How Athens ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Athens is worth $225,000, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $53,929, which is more affordable than 32% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $846 a month. 59.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Athens | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,000 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $846 | $863 |
| Median household income | $53,929 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 59.9% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Athens
| People | Athens | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.0% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 88.2% |
Weather in Athens
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 28.2°F. About 60.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.6 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 85 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Athens since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 2, 1953 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 133 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 17, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 7, 1985.
Severe weather in McMinn County since 1996
McMinn County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3473: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in McMinn County
McMinn County had 17,207 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,929 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Athens itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Athens
6 public schools with 3,724 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McMinn High School | 9-12 | 1,307 | 15.9 |
| Athens City Primary | PK-2 | 733 | 16.7 |
| Athens City Intermediate | 3-5 | 577 | 18.6 |
| Athens City Middle School | 6-8 | 507 | 18.8 |
| E K Baker Elementary | PK-8 | 322 | 14.0 |
| Rogers Creek Elementary | PK-8 | 278 | 13.2 |
Towns near Athens
- Etowah, TN9.3 mi · 3,603 people · home $190,800
- Sweetwater, TN12.5 mi · 6,312 people · home $178,400
- Madisonville, TN14.3 mi · 5,132 people · home $234,400
- Dayton, TN22.9 mi · 7,065 people · home $214,900
- Loudon, TN23.7 mi · 5,991 people · home $244,200
- Cleveland, TN24.3 mi · 47,356 people · home $272,200
- Tellico Village, TN25.4 mi · 7,311 people · home $517,200
- Sale Creek, TN27.3 mi · 3,021 people · home $299,700
Athens questions
Is Athens, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Athens scores better for retirees than 15% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 22%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Athens?
The median owner-occupied home in Athens is valued at $225,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,929, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $846 a month.
What is the weather like in Athens?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 28.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.4 inches of precipitation a year and 3.6 inches of snow.
Does Athens get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Athens since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 2, 1953. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- 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)