City · Clarke County, Georgia

Athens-Clarke County, Georgia

Athens-Clarke County is a city in Clarke County, Georgia, part of the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area. It has 127,345 residents. Athens-Clarke County, Georgia has a quality-of-life score of 35 out of 100 (low), ranking #10,152 of 15,651 US cities and towns. Within Georgia it ranks #109 of 386 cities and towns. It ranks best on gyms and fitness centers (high), students per teacher (low) and restaurants and bars (high). It ranks worst on primary care shortage (high), food environment index (low) and poverty rate (high).

35Low

Quality-of-life score: #10,152 of 15,651 cities and towns
Georgia: #109 of 386 in GA
Population: 127,345 (2020-2024)
Land area: 116 mi²
Density: 1,093.7 /mi²
FIPS code: 1303440

Percentile-based score (100 is the best in the country) from 75 of 80 indicators, with the default “Explorer” weights.

Open in the map

Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US cities and towns.

Safety38#9,627/15,637
Economy17#12,920/15,631
Housing1#14,754/14,977
Health49#7,918/15,609
Healthcare56#6,928/15,650
Environment54#7,109/15,453
Education42#9,025/15,649
Infrastructure70#4,683/15,650
Community7#14,565/15,651
Leisure & amenities96#609/15,651

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Athens-Clarke County, Georgia ranks highest and lowest among US cities and towns (score = percentile, 100 = best). Values marked “Clarke County value” are the county’s: the source publishes no figure for this city or town, and the county holding most of its residents stands in.

Strengths

Gyms and fitness centers · high2.2 /10k
95/100Georgia 1.5 /10kUnited States 1.3 /10k2025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsClarke County value
Students per teacher · low11.1×
93/100Georgia 14.1×United States 15.2×2024National Center for Education StatisticsClarke County value
Restaurants and bars · high13.2 /10k
91/100Georgia 8.5 /10kUnited States 9.0 /10k2025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsClarke County value
Injury deaths · low61 /100k
87/100Georgia 80 /100kUnited States 87 /100k2019-2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteClarke County value
Flu vaccinations · high53.0%
87/100Georgia 41.0%United States 44.0%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteClarke County value
Grocery stores · high2.4 /10k
86/100Georgia 1.6 /10kUnited States 1.7 /10k2025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsClarke County value

Weaknesses

Primary care shortage · high20.0
1/100Georgia 8.1United States 6.2Oct 2026Health Resources and Services AdministrationClarke County value
Food environment index · low5.6
2/100Georgia 6.2United States 7.62019 & 2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteClarke County value
Poverty rate · high26.5%
4/100Georgia 12.8%United States 12.1%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B17001
Reading scores · low2.59
4/100Georgia 2.97United States 3.052019University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteClarke County value
Income inequality (Gini index) · high0.503
4/100Georgia 0.477United States 0.4832020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B19083
Rent-burdened households · high59.5%
6/100Georgia 52.4%United States 51.1%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B25070

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

Broadband subscriptionsImproving
82.3% (2015-2019) → 92.6% (2020-2024)
+10 pts5 yearsCensus table B28002US 82.7% → 91.0%
Child poverty rateImproving
33.7% (2015-2019) → 24.4% (2020-2024)
−9.3 pts5 yearsCensus table B17001US 16.8% → 15.5%
Median household incomeImproving
$38,311 (2015-2019) → $52,974 (2020-2024)
+38%5 yearsCensus table B19013US $65,712 → $81,604
Home price to income ratioWorsening
4.5× (2015-2019) → 5.6× (2020-2024)
+27%5 yearsCensus table B25077US 3.5× → 4.1×
Poverty rateImproving
29.9% (2015-2019) → 26.5% (2020-2024)
−3.4 pts5 yearsCensus table B17001US 12.3% → 12.1%
Bachelor's degree or higherImproving
44.0% (2015-2019) → 47.3% (2020-2024)
+3.3 pts5 yearsCensus table B15003US 32.1% → 35.7%

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Athens-Clarke County, Georgia improved on 7 of 15 measures with a comparison and declined on 2. 5 moved within the margin of error and 1 barely changed.

Earlier (2015-2019)
Latest (2020-2024)
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among cities and towns: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts.

Improved7

Child poverty−9.3 points33.7% → 24.4%
Poverty−3.4 points29.9% → 26.5%
Household income+38%$38,311 → $52,974
Uninsured−2.3 points15.0% → 12.7%
Inequality−0.0200.523 → 0.503

Declined2

Price / income+1.2×4.5× → 5.6×
Transit use−2.7 points4.6% → 1.9%

All 15 measures

Change of every measure of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Average commute time	19.4 min2015-2019	20.6 min2020-2024	+1.2 min	Within the margin of error	34%
Bachelor's degree or higher	44.0%2015-2019	47.3%2020-2024	+3.3 points	Improved	54%
Broadband subscriptions	82.3%2015-2019	92.6%2020-2024	+10 points	Improved	61%
Child poverty rate	33.7%2015-2019	24.4%2020-2024	−9.3 points	Improved	80%
Effective property tax rate	0.97%2015-2019	0.86%2020-2024	−0.1 points	Little change	38%
High school diploma or higher	87.9%2015-2019	89.5%2020-2024	+1.7 points	Within the margin of error	55%
Home price to income ratio	4.5×2015-2019	5.6×2020-2024	+1.2×	Declined	16%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.5232015-2019	0.5032020-2024	−0.020	Improved	67%
Median household income	$38,3112015-2019	$52,9742020-2024	+38%	Improved	71%
Poverty rate	29.9%2015-2019	26.5%2020-2024	−3.4 points	Improved	72%
Public transit commuters	4.6%2015-2019	1.9%2020-2024	−2.7 points	Declined	11%
Rent as share of income	35.4%2015-2019	35.9%2020-2024	+0.5 points	Within the margin of error	51%
Rent-burdened households	57.9%2015-2019	59.5%2020-2024	+1.7 points	Within the margin of error	50%
Unemployment rate	5.3%2015-2019	5.3%2020-2024	+0 points	Within the margin of error	47%
Uninsured residents (under 65)	15.0%2015-2019	12.7%2020-2024	−2.3 points	Improved	72%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 14640 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 15651 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Cities and towns like Athens-Clarke County, Georgia five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Athens-Clarke County, Georgia itself moved +0.9 points in standing on average over the same 10 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

127,345 residents (±606)

Men
Women

80 and over
70–79
60–69

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

53,643 households (±492)

Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
Georgia share

Under $25k24%13,054
$25k–50k23%12,518
$50k–75k15%8,310

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

53,643 households (±492)

Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
Georgia share

Own41%21,812
Rent59%31,831

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Own (+2.2 points).

Table view

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

62,745 workers (±1,458)

Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
Georgia share

Drive alone70%44,043
Carpool7.8%4,914
Public transit1.9%1,207

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes pay by metro area, not by county or city. The metro area page lists its largest occupations and lets you look up any job.

Pay in the Athens-Clarke County, GA

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

The Census Bureau publishes business counts by county, not by city, so these are the figures of Clarke County, the county holding most of Athens-Clarke County's residents.

Clarke County has 3,307 employer establishments, 253 for every 10,000 residents (1.02× the US rate of 248; 1.07× Georgia's), with 52,648 paid employees at an average annual pay of $51,480. The Census Bureau also counts 11,288 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 3,307; 11,288 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 253; US 248 · Georgia 236
Paid employees: 52,648
Average annual pay: $51,480; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Clarke County by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Ambulatory health care services	406	31.1	1.49×More than typical	4,353	$84,037	631
Restaurants and other eating places	299	22.9	1.25×About typical	7,291	$19,076	61
Lessors of real estate	207	15.9	1.29×More than typical	1,874	$57,707	938
Offices of physicians	157	12	1.86×More than typical	2,625	$106,918	82
Limited-service restaurants	129	9.9	1.23×About typical	3,259	$18,388	30
Full-service restaurants	121	9.3	1.21×About typical	3,403	$20,266	25
Offices of other health practitioners	118	9	1.49×More than typical	313	$37,767	287
Legal services	91	7	1.30×More than typical	369	$134,160	116
Specialty trade contractors	90	6.9	0.45×Fewer than typical	1,125	$69,049	529
Religious organizations	86	6.6	1.19×About typical	760	$25,066	—
Construction of buildings	79	6.1	0.80×About typical	722	$98,561	314
Personal care services	79	6.1	1.27×More than typical	356	$34,871	708

Rank places for an industry Open Clarke County

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 130,531 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contracts performed here

In FY2026, an estimated $52.2M of federal contract obligations were for work performed in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia: $410 per resident (US $1,995).

Obligations: $52.2M; +37% vs FY2025
Per resident: $410; US $1,995
Sole-source: 45%; US 30%
Single offer: 7.3%; US 8.8%

A signal is a reason to look closer, not evidence of wrongdoing: most sole-source awards are lawful and justified.

Top buying agencies

Environmental Protection Agency$22.9M44%
Agricultural Research Service$8.9M17%
Public Buildings Service$7M13%
National Institutes of Health$5.1M9.9%
Food Safety and Inspection Service$4M7.7%
Department of the Army$1.9M3.6%
Internal Revenue Service$1.3M2.5%
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention$314.5K0.6%

Top recipients

PUYENPA CONSTRUCTION, LLC$18.6M36%
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.$7M13%
SOUTH DADE AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION INC$7M13%
CAS FSE JV II LLC$5.5M11%
RICHARD MCELHINEY ARCHITECT, PLLC$1.7M3.2%

Spending by fiscal year

170.2MFY2017
26.4MFY2018
29.2MFY2019
35.4MFY2020
45MFY2021
46.4MFY2022
45.3MFY2023
49.3M

Top industries (NAICS)

Nonresidential building construction · 2362$18.9M36%
Facilities support services · 5612$13.8M27%
Scientific research and development services · 5417$6.7M13%
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing · 3345$4M7.6%
Architectural, engineering, and related services · 5413$2.7M5.2%
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services · 5416

Largest awards whose ZIP code lies mostly in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia

Source: Federal contract transactions (Federal Procurement Data System) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 7, 2026, loaded Oct 7, 2026.

How this is estimated

Agencies report each contract action's place of performance as a county and a ZIP code. A ZIP code's money is split among the cities it covers by the share of its land inside each (Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation areas); the part outside city limits stays with the county.

The place of performance is what the contracting agency reports, often the contractor's office rather than where the work happens.
Shares are of land, not of people or businesses: a ZIP code that is mostly rural land but has its offices in town gives the town less than it should.
ZIP codes that are not mapped areas (post office boxes, the unique ZIP codes of large federal sites and companies) stay with their county, unless one city covers nearly all of it.
Counts of actions and awards include those only partly in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, so they do not add up across cities.

Athens-Clarke County, Georgia's figures are part of those of Clarke County, GA ($52.2M in FY2026), never added to them: 100.0% of that total.

Grants and other federal assistance are counted by county here, not split among cities: Athens-Clarke County is mostly in Clarke County.

See federal money in Clarke County

Representation in Congress

Members serving today, with their record in the current Congress (party-unity votes cast with their caucus, roll calls missed). Not a grade.

Athens-Clarke County, Georgia is represented in the 119th Congress by these members.

House

Mike CollinsR-GA-10 · 100% of residentsWith party 99%Missed 2.1%

Senate

Explore Congress The 2026 races

County

A city can lie in several counties. Some indicators are published for counties only: the page marks them.

Clarke County47100% of residents

Metro area

The metro or micro area the city belongs to.

Athens-Clarke County, GA53

Other cities and towns in Clarke County

Largest first.

Winterville532,223

Similar cities and towns

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement

JSON · /api/v1/places/1303440

Scores by category

Strengths · Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

Trends