Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Athens, AL

    Is Athens a good place to live?

    Watch Athens

    Athens ranks #7 of 24 Alabama cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (59/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 4.9% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $253,700
    +13.2% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $834
    per month
    Household income
    $65,000
    median
    Unemployment
    3.3%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Athens

    The median home value in Athens is $253,700 and median rent is $834 a month, against a median household income of $65,000. Homes cost about 3.9× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Athens crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Alabama the 2025 rate was 353 violent and 1,501 property crimes per 100,000 people — #23 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Athens, AL

    Athens has about 27,474 residents, 3.3% unemployment and 21% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Athens with

    Athens vs HuntsvilleAthens vs BirminghamAthens vs MontgomeryAthens vs MobileAthens vs TuscaloosaAthens vs HooverAthens vs AuburnAthens vs Dothan

    More: Where to move in Alabama · Best counties in Alabama

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report