Athens, Tennessee Population 2024

14,941

Athens Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Athens was:

  • White: 84.7%
  • Two or more races: 6.51%
  • Black or African American: 6.09%
  • Other race: 1.47%
  • Asian: 1.16%
  • Native American: 0.06%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0%
Land Area (mi²)
15.6 sq mi
Density (mi²)
960.10/sq mi
Growth Since 2020
5.97% (842)
The current population of Athens, Tennessee is 14,941 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates (released May 2024). The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 14,099.

Population by Race

Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White12,07084.7%
Two or more races9276.51%
Black or African American8686.09%
Other race2101.47%
Asian1661.16%
Native American90.06%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander00%

White

Two or more races

Black or African American

Other race

Asian

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Athens Population by Race

Athens Population Pyramid 2024

Athens Median Age

40.8

Total

35.9

Male

42.4

Female

Athens Adults

There are 11,704 adults, (2,444 of whom are seniors) in Athens.

Athens Age Dependency

53.9

Age Dependency Ratio

26.4

Old Age Dependency Ratio

27.5

Child Dependency Ratio

Athens Sex Ratio

Female7,06349.56%
Male7,18750.44%

Athens Population by Age

Athens Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All6,0312.2158.141.9
Non Family2,4341.242.457.6
Married2,3073.0978.321.7
Female9402.6640.659.4
Male3502.1782.317.7

2.8

Average Family Size

2.21

Average Household Size

58.1%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Athens Households and Families

Male

Female

Education Attained
Count
Percentage
9th to 12th Grade9019.01%
Associates Degree7267.26%
Bachelors Degree1,42114.2%
Graduate Degree8448.44%
High School Graduate3,54135.4%
Less Than 9th Grade4334.33%
Some College2,13821.37%

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Athens Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Athens Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

Race
Total
High School
Bachelors
White8,2477,2652,020
Black63949166
2+ Races56549697
Hispanic48329814
Asian15713368
Other Race1171170
Native American220

The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 100%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 43.31%.

Athens Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

Name
Average
Male
Female
Bachelors Degree$68,935$74,643$49,792
Graduate Degree$64,975$0$62,000
High School Graduate$36,302$43,158$33,341
Less Than 9th Grade$28,793$28,168$40,875
Overall$42,867$47,333$36,800
Some College$41,448$44,160$35,729

$42,867

Average Earnings

$47,333

Average Male

$36,800

Average Female

Athens Earnings by Educational Attainment

Athens Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Athens Language

91.91% of Athens residents speak only English, while 8.09% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 5.37% of the population.

Athens Language

Athens Poverty by Race

rate

Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White10,7642,06419.18%
Black75019425.87%
Multiple88917619.8%
Hispanic901525.77%
Other201199.45%

18.36%

Overall Poverty Rate

16.2%

Male Poverty Rate

20.56%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Athens

The race most likely to be in poverty in Athens is Black, with 25.87% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Athens is Hispanic, with 5.77% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.16%. Among those working part-time, it was 22.81%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 30.56%.

Athens Poverty

rate

Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade36.92%
High School20.58%
Some College15.99%
Bachelors or Greater2.86%

Athens Poverty Rate by Education

rate

Rate
Poverty
Female Unemployed31.49%
Male Unemployed23.66%
Female Employed8.79%
Male Employed5.68%

Athens Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Athens Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

Name
Median
Mean
Families$64,809$85,651
Households$53,151$72,702
Married Families$87,472$-999,999,999
Non Families$31,250$49,763

mean

median

Income by Household Type

Athens Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

39.8%

Overall Marriage Rate

41.4%

Male Marriage Rate

38.2%

Female Marriage Rate

Athens Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Athens Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is 45-54, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.

Athens Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Athens Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

730

Number of Veterans

719

Male Veterans

11

Female Veterans

War
Veterans
Vietnam267
Second Gulf War200
First Gulf War169
Korea25
World War II3

Athens Veterans by War

count

Age Group
Veterans
35 to 54234
75+198
65 to 74129
18 to 3492
55 to 6477

Athens Veterans by Age

count

Name
Veterans
% of Total
White6966.95%
Black172.22%
2+ Races172.89%
Hispanic111.62%

Athens Veterans by Race

Athens Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

6.83%

Veteran Poverty Rate

28.17%

Veteran Disability Rate

Athens Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

57.6%

Labor Force Participation

54.4%

Employment Rate

5.5%

Unemployment Rate

Athens Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Athens Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Athens Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

63.02%

Born in Athens

94.81%

Native Born

5.19%

Foreign Born

3.36%

Non Citizen

1.82%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

94.81% of Athens residents were born in the United States, with 63.02% having been born in Tennessee. 3.36% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.

Athens Place of Birth

Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change
Year
Population
Growth
Change
202915,9942101.33%
202815,7842111.35%
202715,5732111.37%
202615,3622101.39%
202515,1522111.41%
202414,9412101.43%
202314,7313742.61%
202214,3572261.6%
202114,131320.23%
202014,099780.56%
201914,021920.66%
201813,929900.65%
201713,839640.46%
201613,775550.4%
201513,720-97-0.7%
201413,817710.52%
201313,74620.01%
201213,744610.45%
201113,683110.08%
201013,67200%
200013,2201,1669.67%
199012,054-26-0.22%
198012,0802902.46%
197011,790-313-2.59%
196012,1033,48540.44%
19508,6181,68824.36%
19406,9301,54528.69%
19305,3852,805108.72%
19202,58078043.33%
19001,800-14,194-88.75%

Athens Population by Year