The typical owner-occupied home in Athens is worth about $164,000, 38% below the Illinois median of $263,300 and 51% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,065 a year in property taxes, about 1.87% of their home's value, lower than the Illinois rate of 2.01%. The median household earns $81,192 a year, so the median home costs 2.0 times the median income (3.2 times for Illinois). 72% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 65% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Athens at a glance
| Athens | Illinois | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,000 | $263,300 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $3,065 | $5,298 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.87% | 2.01% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $81,192 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 72% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 65% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,404 | $1,987 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.1% | 20.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $855 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 33.6% | 29.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1980 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 9.5% | 7.7% | 10.1% |
| Population | 2,102 | 12,694,798 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Athens
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Athens home of $164,000 with 20% down costs about $1,206 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,480, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $51,707 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 18% of the median Athens household income of $81,192; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $258,000.
The median rent here is $855 a month, so owning the median home costs about $351 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $32,800 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $131,200 |
| Principal and interest | $883 |
| Property taxes (1.87% a year) | $256 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $68 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,206 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,740 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $161,030 |
| Principal and interest | $1,083 |
| Property taxes (1.87% a year) | $256 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $68 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $73 |
| Total per month | $1,480 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Athens
What is the median home value in Athens?
About $164,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Athens?
Homeowners pay a median $3,065 a year, which is about 1.87% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Athens?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,206 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $51,707 a year.
More about Athens
- Mortgage Refinance in Athens
- Debt Relief in Athens
- Home Equity Loans in Athens
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data