The typical owner-occupied home in Athens is worth about $168,100, 3% above the West Virginia median of $162,600 and 49% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $854 a year in property taxes, about 0.51% of their home's value, close to the West Virginia rate of 0.53%. The median household earns $56,667 a year, so the median home costs 3.0 times the median income (2.7 times for West Virginia). 74% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 47% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Athens at a glance
| Athens | West Virginia | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,100 | $162,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $854 | $865 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.51% | 0.53% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $56,667 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 74% | 75% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 47% | 46% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,326 | $1,255 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 27.5% | 17.3% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $975 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 38.5% | 29.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1959 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 32.4% | 15.4% | 10.1% |
| Population | 1,494 | 1,778,373 | 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 $168,100 with 20% down costs about $1,046 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,326, 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 $44,835 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median Athens household income of $56,667; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $212,000.
The median rent here is $975 a month, so owning the median home costs about $71 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $33,620 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $134,480 |
| Principal and interest | $905 |
| Property taxes (0.51% a year) | $71 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $70 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,046 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,884 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $165,055 |
| Principal and interest | $1,110 |
| Property taxes (0.51% a year) | $71 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $70 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $74 |
| Total per month | $1,326 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Athens
What is the median home value in Athens?
About $168,100 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 $854 a year, which is about 0.51% 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 $1,046 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $44,835 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