Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Athens, GA

    Is Athens a good place to live?

    Watch Athens

    Athens ranks #34 of 48 Georgia cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (40/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.2% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $271,800
    +12.2% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,162
    per month
    Household income
    $51,655
    median
    Unemployment
    5.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Athens

    The median home value in Athens is $271,800 and median rent is $1,162 a month, against a median household income of $51,655. Homes cost about 5.3× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Athens crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Georgia the 2025 rate was 301 violent and 1,404 property crimes per 100,000 people — #29 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Athens, GA

    Athens has about 126,987 residents, 5.2% unemployment and 24% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Athens with

    Athens vs AtlantaAthens vs ColumbusAthens vs AugustaAthens vs Macon-Bibb CountyAthens vs SavannahAthens vs South FultonAthens vs Sandy SpringsAthens vs Roswell

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

    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