Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), Georgia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) is a major urban center located in Georgia. The total population is 126,987. It ranks as the 6th most populous out of 670 cities and towns in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) is 29.2 years. This is 22% lower than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) is $51,655. This is 31% lower than the state median of $74,664. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 34% lower. The poverty rate stands at 26.3%. This is 95% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.5%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 1% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $271,800. Housing costs are about average than the state median of $272,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 40.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% lower than the state average of 65.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) is White (non-Hispanic), making up 54.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 26.1%.

Education

48.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 42% higher than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.9%. Notably, 24.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), Georgia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Georgia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 670 Census-designated places in Georgia. For official data, visit data.census.gov.