Athens County, Ohio Demographics 2026

Name: Athens County, Ohio Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Athens County, Ohio has a population of 61,573, the 41st most populous county in Ohio. The median household income is $53,837 and the median home value is $173,800. The poverty rate is 22.1%.

Athens County Quick Facts

Population 61,573

Median Household Income $53,837

Median Home Value $173,800

Poverty Rate 22.1%

Unemployment Rate 5.8%

Median Age 32.8 years

Homeownership Rate 61.9%

Affordability Ratio 3.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 35.4%

High School Graduation 91.8%

Cities/Places 15

Population 61,573 41st of 88

Median Income $53,837 23% lower than state

Poverty Rate 22.1%

Unemployment 5.8%

Median Household Income

Athens

$53,837

$69,680

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Athens

$173,800

$199,200

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 26.5%

$25K-$50K 21.1%

$50K-$100K 27.5%

$100K+ 25.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

9.4%

$10K-$15K

6.3%

$15K-$20K

4.6%

$20K-$25K

6.2%

$25K-$30K

3.6%

$30K-$35K

5.0%

$35K-$40K

4.0%

$40K-$45K

4.1%

$45K-$50K

4.4%

$50K-$60K

6.9%

$60K-$75K

8.2%

$75K-$100K

12.3%

$100K-$125K

9.3%

$125K-$150K

4.7%

$150K-$200K

5.3%

$200K+

5.6%

Employment

5.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%

57.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 61.9%

Renter 38.1%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.2x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

14.9%

18-34

38.1%

35-54

20.8%

55-74

21.0%

75+

5.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 40 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Athens County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Athens	23,211	$37,059	41.6%	$242,200
Nelsonville	3,816	$42,281	20.7%	$90,700
The Plains	2,584	$51,397	19.9%	$244,300
Glouster	1,556	$37,639	27.4%	$75,300
Albany	909	$66,518	7.2%	$140,800
Chauncey	822	$36,356	29.5%	$74,000
Coolville	595	$48,333	18.5%	$122,700
Stewart	560	$58,352	5.9%	$71,700
Trimble	444	$46,250	18.2%	$51,900
Buchtel	425	$60,625	10.0%	$128,300
Jacksonville	343	$64,135	11.0%	$74,400
Amesville	189	$80,417	0.5%	$140,800
Millfield	112	$42,356	5.4%	N/A
Hockingport	108	$108,250	11.1%	$163,800
New Marshfield	94	N/A	40.4%	$181,600

Explore Ohio Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Athens County is located in Ohio with a total population of 61,573. It is the 41st most populous county out of 88 in Ohio. The county encompasses 15 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Athens County is 32.8 years. This is 17% lower than the state median of 39.6 years. Only 14.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Athens County is $53,837. This is 23% lower than the state median of $69,680. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 22.1%. This is 67% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. 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 5.8%. This is 19% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $173,800. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $199,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 61.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Athens County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.5%. The Black or African American population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 12.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 4.6%.

Education

35.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.8%. Notably, 18.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Athens County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Ohio and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Athens County, Ohio?

Athens County has a population of 61,573, making it the 41st most populous county in Ohio.

What is the median income in Athens County?

The median household income in Athens County is $53,837 with a poverty rate of 22.1%.

How many cities are in Athens County, Ohio?

Athens County contains 15 Census-designated places.