Home to the 'Dawgs, the B-52s and growing families
Football and music are pillars in Athens – Georgia’s “Classic City” that’s named in honor of the Greek metropolis. Much of the city's economic success is driven by the University of Georgia, found in the heart of the city along the North Oconee River, including its national championship-winning football team, the Bulldogs. "UGA brings a lot of resources to this town," says Gena Knox, local Realtor with Ansley Real Estate and Christie's International Real Estate. She's lived in the city for over 20 years. "I don't think Athens would be what it is without the University and its students. And the football team brings a lot of people and a really fun energy." The University helped propel the city into the spotlight, but some folks would argue that the Classic City's legendary music scene brought equal shine. It's the birthplace of household names like the B-52s, REM and Widespread Panic. Whispers of the city's music scene quickly turned into screams heard nationwide – prompting the Smashing Pumpkins to play in the streets and Snoop Dogg to play revered music venues like the 40 Watt Club.
While downtown is filled with music, students and the Georgia football faithful, Athens is still a town where folks raise families, retire and get to know each other. "It's a very eclectic town where there's something for everybody," Knox says. "A lot of students living here will say to me, 'We had no idea there was this whole area for families.' They don't even realize we all have families and raise children here, too." And it reminds Knox of the small town she grew up in. "I grew up in a really small town with like 1,000 people, and I love that Athens has a similar feel," Knox says. "My kids are now the age where they can bike to the nearby drug store that has a lunch counter." Athens is a consolidated city council with Clarke County and home to nearly 130,000 people, making it the sixth-largest city in Georgia, just over 70 miles northeast of Atlanta. The median age here is 28, with a high concentration of college students and young professionals.
Athens is the birthplace of household names like the B-52s, REM and Widespread Panic.
Despite it's size, Athens offers many quiet, tight knit neighborhoods that are ideal for families.
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Living in downtown and working at UGA
Established and new neighborhoods surround the UGA campus and downtown areas, where there's a higher concentration of historic homes and condos. Early 20th-century cottages in a central area like Five Points can cost $550,000, while a two-story Craftsman from the 1910s can exceed $900,000. Condos are also prevalent near downtown; newer builds from the 2000s typically cost $245,000, while historic condos can cost $750,000. In the neighborhoods surrounding UGA and downtown, single-family homes often sit on large, tree-shaded lots; a midcentury ranch-style home here can sell for $350,000, while a New Traditional home from the 2020s can cost $450,000. Athens has long been known for being an accessible market, but as the city has grown, so have housing prices; between February 2023 and February 2024, the average sale price grew eight percent to $396,631.
The University of Georgia is Athens' largest employer, with over 11,000 employees. The University System of Georgia Board of Regents voted to expand UGA and establish an Independent School of Medicine in Athens. The medical school will open at the existing UGA Health Sciences Campus and inevitably broaden the city's University workforce. Piedmont Athens Regional and St. Mary's Health Care System operate two of the city's largest hospitals, employing over 5,000 people. The Clarke County School District has more than 2,000 workers. The manufacturing, agricultural and service industries are also integral to the local economy.
Rows of ranch style homes in well establish neighborhoods are found in the Athens area.
Other custom built homes can also be found throughout Athens.
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A legendary music scene and championship-winning football team
Athens earns its nickname "The Liverpool of the South" for its vibrant music scene. The downtown area hosts music events year-round, like AthFest, a three-day music and arts festival with regional musicians and artists. Downtown's streets are lined with popular venues like the intimate 40-Watt Club and the historic Georgia Theater. "I've seen the Smashing Pumpkins play here," says Realtor Marcelo Buril of Greater Athens Properties, who has lived in the city for 25 years. "And I've seen a bunch of bands play at the Georgia Theater." The Akins Ford Arena, a new music (and sports) venue, is under development. The facility is expected to be completed in Fall 2024 and will host over 100 events in its first year, including concerts and gymnastics competitions. The arena will have 8,500 seats. New commercial and residential developments are also planned around the arena; the venue and the surrounding retail and restaurants are expected to bring in $33 million annually for the city.
Football is a big deal in Athens, and celebrations happen across the city when the UGA Bulldogs play at home. "The energy is explosive," says associate broker Michelle Farmer of Athens Real Estate Associates. She's lived in the city for nearly three decades. "Everybody is nice, and everyone is dressed crazy. We do have traffic that day, but everyone is happy about it and screaming out their cars. It's just an overwhelming sense of pride and love." Tailgating starts early in the morning. "The celebrations start early; we have 'Dawg Walks' on Saturday morning," Farmer says. "Everyone is trying to get their parking spots to set up and tailgate." Just before kickoff, 93,000 pack Sanford Stadium to cheer on the Dawgs.
Athens is located close to popular venues like the historic Georgia Theater.
Athens residents can go to Sanford Stadium to watch the Georgia Bulldogs play football.
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Attending UGA and Clarke County Schools
UGA is the beating heart of Athens. Many residents attend the University, work there or have graduated and started to build a life in the area. According to 2021 Census American Community Survey data, about 30 percent of the city's population are UGA attendees. The University offers over 200 degrees and programs of study. The Clarke County School District serves over 12,300 students and scores an overall B on Niche. In 2023, the school district received the Leading Edge Award from the Georgia School Boards Association for its summer enrichment program, Student Opportunities for Accelerated Readiness. Clarke Central High School is the county's highest-rated school on Niche, scoring an A-minus and serving over 1,800 students. Many families favor Athens' esteemed private schools, like Athens Academy. Niche ranks the private school among the top 10 best overall private schools in Georgia and gives it an overall A-plus.
The University of Georgia school campus sits at the heart of Athens.
Clarke County School District’s main office is located in the old Prince Ave Christian School building.
Clarke Central High still stands in its original school building.
Athens Academy is a highly rated private school found just outside Athens.
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College bars in downtown and local spots in Normaltown
Downtown Athens is home to nearly 50 stores plus more than 100 bars and restaurants. The James Beard-winning Five and Ten is popular with families, and UGA students often gather at the college-favorite bar Double Barrel. Fashion boutiques, tattoo shops, thrift stores, and everything in between sit between mainstays, such as the music and comic book shop Wuxtry Records. Normaltown, a popular neighborhood west of downtown, features several lounges and restaurants. Five Points, the closest community to UGA, features popular restaurants like ZZ & Simone's and Cali N' Tito's. As the city grows, new shopping plazas are popping up around suburbs outside downtown, like the Athens West Shopping Center.
The music and comic book shop Wuxtry Records is a popular destination in Downtown Athens.
Cali N Tito's is one of the most popular restaurants in the Five Points area.
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Biking in the city or shopping the market
Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services maintains over 2,000 acres of parks and green spaces. The department operates an arts center, dog parks, playgrounds, community centers and athletic fields. Bishop Park, close to the Normaltown and Boulevard communities, has a weekly farmers market and several sports facilities. Dudley Park, east of the UGA campus, serves the Chicopee-Dudley community and is also an intersection for the Firefly Trail and the North Oconee Greenway. Both trails are popular with cyclists. The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is popular for its trails and playsets, and the skateboarding legend Tony Hawk designed the Skate Park of Athens.
Locals stay in shape by jogging on the North Oconee River Greenway in Chicopee-Dudley.
Locals utilize their bicycles to get to around the Athens area.
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ACC Transit and UGA buses
Athens has a robust public transit system that sets it apart from other cities in the state. Athens-Clarke County Transit and UGA buses transport residents and students almost everywhere in the city. To get around Athens by car, locals can hop onto the Georgia State Route 10 Loop, which wraps the city. Commuters can take the Atlanta Highway or Interstate 20 to reach Atlanta 72 miles away; although traffic around Georgia's capital is typically heavy, it's usually lighter coming in from the east. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the nearest airport, located about 74 miles away.
Several bus stops can be found throughout the North Avenue area.
Southeast Atlanta includes the busiest passenger airport in the world.
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Crime and weather in Athens
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department released crime statistics from 2023, and numbers are down from 2022. According to the police department's annual report, the overall crime rate was 33.08 crimes per 1,000 people, down from 34.23 in 2022. The crime rate has steadily declined from 2019's rate of 39.70. This overall crime rate is determined by consolidating three categories: Crimes against Persons, down 6.8 percent from 2022; Crimes against Property, down 2.6 percent, and Crimes against Society, up 5.4 percent.
"It's nice how we have the four seasons here," Buril says. "Winter isn't brutal either. It's not really going to snow. It may snow here once every three years, but just a couple of inches. Just enough to have a snow day and close the schools." Summer can get hot in Athens. According to Risk Factor, Athens-Clarke County has a major risk from heat. Athens' greenery is a major source of pollen. Athens saw consecutive record-breaking pollen seasons in 2022 and 2023, with some days having pollen counts exceeding 8,000 particles per cubic meter, according to the Atlanta Asthma and Emergency Clinic.
Written By
Brennen Martin
Photography Contributed By
Bradley Parrish
Video By
Matt Ferguson
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On average, homes in Athens, GA sell after 57 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Athens, GA over the last 12 months is $400,000, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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