Athens city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Athens city is a small community located in Illinois. The total population is 2,146. It ranks as the 494th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Athens city is 33.3 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Athens city is $85,000. This is 4% higher than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 8% higher. The poverty rate stands at 9.4%. This is 20% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 7.7%. This is 32% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $164,200. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Athens city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Athens city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.5% vs 58.8%). The Black or African American population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.3%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

25.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Athens city, Illinois 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 Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. For official data, visit data.census.gov.