In Athens, Tennessee, a close-knit community, family oriented events and shared hobbies earn it the nickname "The Friendly City." At about 14,000 residents, Athens is the largest locality in McMinn County and the central hub for shopping, dining and entertainment. Yet, Athens maintains its small-town charm, which attracts new people and keeps longtime residents around. "Athens is a community," says Carla Patton, affiliate broker with Silver Key Realty. "Every time our neighbor goes out of town, we care for her dog. We take in each other's packages and mail, too. That's very common around here."
The McMinn County Courthouse stands in the center of downtown Athens.
Athens residents can visit four shopping plazas around one of the main areas of town.
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Seasonal outings and family-centered events
The city holds a few annual events, including Moofest in the summer, Pumpkintown in the fall and Downtown Christmas around the holidays. "They close down the town square, and everyone comes out to celebrate," Patton says. Other popular annual events are the Daddy Daughter Dance, Mother Son Dance and Soapbox Derby, where local students can showcase their STEM education and win a chance to compete in the World Championship in Akron. Downtown, murals by local artists are on display, and musicians perform at Market Park during the Sound of Summer Concert Series.
Kids in Athens can compete in the annual Soap Box Derby and win a chance to compete in the World Championship in Akron, OH.
The Market Park Pavilion hosts the Athens Farmers Market as well as several events throughout the year.
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Victorian homes next to modern builds
Housing in Athens ranges from 130 years old to brand new. Bungalows, cottages and farmhouses date back to the Victorian era, while a few sprawling ranch-style and new traditional homes were built in the past three years. Plots of land are still for sale for future developments in neighborhoods like Oak Hill Community. On average, homes range from $200,000 to $500,000, with a few outliers as low as $115,000 and as high as $1.5 million. The median price is $270,00 – well below the national median of $406,000 – but prices are up 3% from the previous year.
New Colonial Revivals have begun popping up in new subdivisions around Athens.
Farmhouse style homes can be found dotting the landscape around Athens, TN.
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The shopping hub of McMinn County
There are more than 30 fast-food chain locations in the city and 24 locally owned restaurants – a number that is slowly growing. "They're also adding a Marshall's, Ulta and Panda Express to the area where Big Lots used to be," Patton says. "Those stores have been a long time coming." McMinn County's grocery, big-box and home improvement stores are also in Athens.
Athens residents have access to retail shops like Hobby Lobby and Marshalls.
Buddy's BBQ is a very popular restaurants with locals in Athens, TN.
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Pickleball is all the rage
Like many other cities in recent years, Athens has a flourishing pickleball community. Eight new courts are at Ingleside Park, and more are at Athens City Middle School. There are four golf courses in the surrounding area, and the 5.6-mile-long Eureka Trail allows running, biking and horseback riding. The main center for outdoor activity, however, is Athens Regional Park. "It's a big sports complex, and any kind of travel ball in the county happens there," Patton says. "People even rent out their houses to those coming in for tournaments."
Try your hand at pickleball on the new pickleball courts at Ingleside Park.
The Eureka Trail winds 5.6 miles down an old railroad bed and can be utilized by bikers, hikers, and horseback riders.
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Attending two districts before graduation
Athens City Schools is rated a B-plus on Niche and teaches prekindergarten through eighth grade. Children attend three schools before moving on to McMinn County School District for high school. Both high schools in McMinn County are within a 10-mile drive and rated a B-minus. The city has two private religious schools, three universities and vocational schools. Tennessee Wesleyan University is a private, four-year Methodist university with over 80 major and minor programs. Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Athens is one of 24 campuses in the state.
McMinn County High School received a grade of B- from Niche.
Athens City Intermediate School is a brand new school for the students in Athens, TN.
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Equidistant from Chattanooga and Knoxville
A railroad through Athens helped the city get its start in the mid-1800s. The location was a convenient stop between larger cities, so flour mills, textile mills and lumber mills set up shop quickly. Factories for furniture and appliance making followed in the early 1900s. Industrial jobs are still the leading source of employment at companies like DENSO Manufacturing Inc., a Caterpillar plant and Pilgrim's food and beverage manufacturing plant. Starr Regional Medical Center – Athens is a minor employer.
Athens is off Interstate 75, directly between Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee. According to Patton, "People moving here from out of state don't mind the commute to the larger cities since they're each only about a 45-minute drive away." Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport has domestic flights and is 50 miles southwest of Athens.
Important to know
According to FBI crime reports, violent crime rates in Athens hover around the national rates. Property crime rates are usually above the national rate, especially for larceny and theft. From 2022 to 2023, violent and property crimes decreased by at least 30%. The city has hot and humid summers and cool winters. According to the NOAA, there is very little annual snowfall—usually less than four inches.
Written By
Heather Haggerty
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Byrum
Video By
Pasha Chichagov
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Roger Kennard,
an experienced agent in this area.
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The American Dream is to live quietly in a highly desirable neighborhood, create your own distinctive home style, have wonderful neighbors, enjoy nature, see the value of your investment appreciate, and have your life needs only 10 minutes from home. Oak Hill Estates in Athens TN west of town answers yes to your dreams. There are 10 very distinctive home sites available with water, underground
The American Dream is to live quietly in a highly desirable neighborhood, create your own distinctive home style, have wonderful neighbors, enjoy nature, see the value of your investment appreciate, and have your life needs only 10 minutes from home. Oak Hill Estates in Athens TN west of town answers yes to your dreams. There are 10 very distinctive home sites available with water, underground
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