The Town FilesAthens, West Virginia
Town in Mercer County · population 962 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,100
- Household income
- $56,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 21.1
Athens is a town of 962 people in Mercer County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $168,100, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of West Virginia towns, better for cycling than 90% of West Virginia towns, better for retirees than 79% of West Virginia towns.
How Athens ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Athens is worth $168,100, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $56,667, which is more affordable than 29% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $975 a month. 74.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Athens | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,100 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $975 | $811 |
| Median household income | $56,667 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 74.1% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.4% | — |
Who lives in Athens
| People | Athens | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.1 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.2% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.8% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.4% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 1.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 17.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Athens
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 41.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.9 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 92 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Athens since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 12, 1965 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 7, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 8, 2019.
Severe weather in Mercer County since 1996
Mercer County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 26, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4861: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 9, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4851: Post-Tropical Storm Helene |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Mercer County
Mercer County had 19,314 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,193 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Athens itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Athens
2 public schools with 338 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Elementary School | PK-5 | 231 | 12.2 |
| Sun Valley Elementary School | K-5 | 107 | 13.4 |
Towns near Athens
- Princeton, WV5.8 mi · 5,872 people · home $120,300
- Rich Creek, VA10.9 mi · 749 people · home $123,200
- Narrows, VA12.8 mi · 2,093 people · home $119,400
- Montcalm, WV13.8 mi · 575 people · home —
- Ghent, WV14.6 mi · 582 people · home —
- Bluewell, WV15.2 mi · 2,162 people · home $125,500
- Bluefield, WV15.4 mi · 9,658 people · home $105,400
- Brush Fork, WV15.9 mi · 1,065 people · home $90,000
Athens questions
Is Athens, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Athens scores better for retirees than 79% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 36%. 12.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 21.1).
How much does a house cost in Athens?
The median owner-occupied home in Athens is valued at $168,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,667, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $975 a month.
What is the weather like in Athens?
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.2 inches of precipitation a year and 23.9 inches of snow.
Does Athens get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Athens since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 12, 1965. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- 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)