Cost of Living in Athens County, Ohio
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Athens County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Athens County ranks #1,666 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 47%)
Sourced county brief
Athens County Official GRAPI Reaches 33.4 Percent
Athens County housing statistics show an official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) of 33.4%. This is 6.5 percentage points higher than the Ohio unweighted county mean of 26.9%. The median gross rent was estimated at $939 per month, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $904. Renter-households had a median income of $27,204 during the 2020-2024 survey period. In the owner-occupied sector, the median home value was $185,000, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $196,325. Median selected monthly owner costs were $794, whereas the state unweighted county mean was $974. These data points represent the ACS 2020-2024 5-year period snapshot for the county. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Athens County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.4% of renter household income in Athens County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $939 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $794. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $37,560 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Ohio unweighted mean of county median rents is $904 per month. Athens County's $939 median is 3.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Athens County
Rent Burden
20.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,307
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.0%
of gross income
The median home in Athens County may be a stretch
Median home value is $185,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,477 vs. your max of $1,307.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Athens County, Ohio?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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