1st Advantage MortgageIn Athens County, Ohio, the typical household earns $56,001 a year and the typical rent is $939. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Ohio license first.
On this page
- Athens County, OH: the basics
- What it costs to live in Athens County
- Household income in Athens County
- Work, industries and travel time in Athens County
- Regional comparison for Athens County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Athens County
- Debt-to-income at Athens County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Athens County
- More Athens County figures
- Licensing and complaints for Athens County
- Checklist for Athens County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Athens County, OH: the basics
Athens County is home to about 61,737 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 41st most populous of 88 county-level areas in Ohio. It covers 504 square miles of land, or about 123 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Athens is the biggest of its 15 Census places, at roughly 23,396 people (38% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Athens County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $939 in Athens County versus $1,034 statewide. By the Census definition, 58% of Athens County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $185,000, or 3.3 years of median income. 60% of Athens County households own their home and 40% rent.
| Housing | Athens County | Ohio statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $939/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $185,000 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 60% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 21% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Household income in Athens County
At $56,001, the typical Athens County household income is 15% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Athens County | Difference from Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.0% | +10.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.5% | -1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.0% | -5.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -3.6 pts |
Some 34% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. 21.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.493 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Athens County
Education and health care employs 39% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 14%. Compared with Ohio, the county leans toward education and health care (39% against 24%). The survey's unemployment rate for Athens County averages 6.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). 14% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home.
| Top industries | Athens County share | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 39.1% | +14.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 14.1% | +5.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.9% | -5.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.2% | -4.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 4.5% | -1.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Regional comparison for Athens County
Distances run center to center, from Meigs County at 17 miles out to Perry County at 30. Perry County leads the group on income ($67,460), Meigs County trails ($46,873), and Athens County out-earns 2 of the six. Some neighbors are in West Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Athens County resident follows Ohio rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens County | - | $56,001 | $939/mo | 60% |
| Meigs County, OH | 17 mi | $46,873 | $722/mo | 75% |
| Morgan County, OH | 22 mi | $59,351 | $742/mo | 79% |
| Vinton County, OH | 24 mi | $55,336 | $728/mo | 76% |
| Hocking County, OH | 26 mi | $62,960 | $808/mo | 79% |
| Wood County, WV | 30 mi | $57,810 | $822/mo | 75% |
| Perry County, OH | 30 mi | $67,460 | $777/mo | 76% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Athens County
15 Census places fall mainly inside Athens County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 36,676 residents, leaving about 41% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. The Plains has the highest median household income on the list ($59,688) and Chauncey the lowest ($35,200), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $773 in Nelsonville to $1,011 in Athens. Live in one of these Athens County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | city | 23,396 | $38,204 | $1,011 | 3 mi |
| Nelsonville | city | 4,279 | $49,750 | $773 | 13 mi |
| The Plains | CDP | 2,748 | $59,688 | $971 | 5 mi |
| Glouster | village | 1,473 | $38,375 | $806 | 12 mi |
| Albany | village | 1,013 | $52,070 | $847 | 11 mi |
| Coolville | village | 664 | $47,333 | $806 | 15 mi |
| Chauncey | village | 655 | $35,200 | $893 | 6 mi |
| Stewart | CDP | 479 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Trimble | village | 466 | $47,120 | $738 | 11 mi |
| Buchtel | village | 451 | $70,000 | $725 | 12 mi |
| Jacksonville | village | 344 | $66,875 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Amesville | village | 207 | $77,500 | $1,111 | 7 mi |
| Millfield | CDP | 207 | $41,601 | n/a | 8 mi |
| New Marshfield | CDP | 187 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Debt-to-income at Athens County's medians
Here is the Athens County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $4,667 gross per month ($56,001 / 12)
- Median rent: $939, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- At 35%, room after rent is $694 a month
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,161 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Athens County
A few patterns in the Athens County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Manufactured homes. 12% of Athens County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 21% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Rent squeeze. 58% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
More Athens County figures
Degree holders: 35% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Athens County | Ohio | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.9% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.5% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.5% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Athens County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.2% |
| 60+ min | 8.5% |
Licensing and complaints for Athens County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Athens County borrowers answers to the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Ohio: Ohio personal loans.
Checklist for Athens County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Athens County:
- Price the Athens County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Ohio license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Athens County?
$56,001 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,389 for Ohio. It ranks 81st of 88 in the state.
Is Athens County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $939 against $1,034 statewide, and 58% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Athens?
Yes, along with the other 14 Census places in Athens County, such as Nelsonville, The Plains, Glouster.
Will a Athens County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Ohio as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Athens County?
Start with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.