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City · 29,002 residents · Limestone County, Alabama

Athens , Alabama

In Athens, a typical home is worth $270,000 and typical rent is $899 a month. Compared with all of Limestone County, typical household income is 16% lower, typical rent is 7% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 14 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $270,000

    4% below the county

    29% above Alabama

    • Athens
    • Limestone
    • Alabama

  • Typical rent

    $899a month

    7% below the county

    11% below Alabama

    • Athens
    • Limestone
    • Alabama

  • Typical household income

    $69,922a year

    16% below the county

    9% above Alabama

    • Athens
    • Limestone
    • Alabama

  • Households that own their home

    64%

    14 points below the county

    6 points below Alabama

    • Athens
    • Limestone
    • Alabama

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$308,273
0.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,475 a month
4.1% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Athens is in Limestone County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Limestone County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Athens apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Decatur, the typical home value is $210,200: 22% less than in Athens ($270,000).

  2. 64% of households in Athens own their home, against 78% in Limestone County.

  3. The typical household income in Athens is $69,922, 16% less than in Limestone County as a whole ($83,629).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Athens

What homes there are in Athens, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Athens, but it weighs less than in Limestone County: 70% against 78%.

Year built

Homes in Athens are older: the typical year built is 1989; in Limestone County, 1998.

There are fewer big homes in Athens than in Limestone County: 69% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 78%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Athens sit under the FHA limit for Limestone County ($541,287): about 88%.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 77% of rented homes in Athens cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Limestone County ($1,341).

With a mortgage

$1,528 a month

Limestone County: $1,517 a month

Without a mortgage

$527 a month

Limestone County: $457 a month

Owners with a mortgage

57%

Limestone County: 61%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Athens is $1,528 a month, near the figure in Limestone County ($1,517).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Athens gained value more slowly than in Limestone County: 67% since 2015–2019, against 77%.

Rents in Athens rose more slowly than in Limestone County: 35% since 2015–2019, against 40%.

Housing prices ran ahead of income in Athens: typical income rose 32%, against +67% for home values and +35% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureAthensLimestone CountyAlabamaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.8%7.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.4%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.522.642.482.53
Drive alone 82%82%81%69%
Carpool 7%6%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Work from home 8%11%9%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Limestone County, a household in Athens has 2.52 people on average.

The car rules in Athens: 82% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 20 to 29 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Athens?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Athens, worth $270,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 36% of the typical household income in Athens, which is $69,922 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $90,573 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Limestone County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Athens. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,450 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,113

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$265,110
Total interest
$381,431
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,560 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,632 a month

  • Tight

    $1,632 to $2,098 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,098 a month

    Your payment · 36%

Compared with the typical household income in Athens ($69,922 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,113
Principal & interest$1,796
Property tax$86
Home insurance$113
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$119

You need at least $9,450 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Athens and Limestone County

Athens is in Limestone County, Alabama. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Athens's own numbers

Typical home value
$270,000
Typical monthly rent
$899
Typical yearly household income
$69,922
Households that own their home
64%
Effective property tax rate
0.38%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Limestone County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,341
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+58%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.2%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Limestone County.

Everything about Limestone County

Buying

Buying a home in Athens

A typical home in Athens is worth $270,000: 4% below the county and 29% above Alabama. With the typical household income in Athens ($69,922 a year), a typical home costs 3.9 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Athens 3.9 years
  • Limestone 3.4 years
  • Alabama 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Limestone County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Limestone County rose 95% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Limestone County.

Period County Alabama U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.6% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +58% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +95% +77% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Athens next to Limestone County, Alabama and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Athens $270,000
  • Limestone $281,000
  • Alabama $209,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Athens $899
  • Limestone $970
  • Alabama $1,007
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Athens $69,922
  • Limestone $83,629
  • Alabama $63,999
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Athens next to Limestone County and Alabama
Measure Athens Limestone County Alabama U.S.
Typical home value $270,000 $281,000 $209,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $899 $970 $1,007 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $69,922 $83,629 $63,999 $80,734
Households that own their home 64% 78% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,033 $900 $788 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.38% 0.32% 0.38% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 40% 41% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Limestone County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Athens

For a typical $270,000 home in Athens, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Athens's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,113a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,450
    Cash to close
    $17,550
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $119

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,064a month

    Down payment
    $13,500
    Cash to close
    $21,600
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $128

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,661a month

    Down payment
    $54,000
    Cash to close
    $62,100
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,911a month

    Down payment
    $40,500
    Cash to close
    $48,600
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Athens and for Limestone County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Athens

0.38%of the home’s value each year

$1,033 a year for the typical owner in Athens.

  • Athens 0.38%
  • Limestone 0.32%
  • Alabama 0.38%

What Alabama publishes Basic homestead exemption (type H-1) (Alabama Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Alabama

Flood risk in Limestone County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Limestone County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.2%
451
Of those, with NFIP insurance
19%
County Alabama U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.2% 3.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 19% 29% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Athens

Typical rent in Athens is $899 a month: 7% below the county. In Athens, 40% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Limestone County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,341 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.79 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Limestone County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,119 $21.52 $44,760
1 bedroom $1,177 $22.63 $47,080
2 bedrooms $1,341 $25.79 $53,640
3 bedrooms $1,735 $33.37 $69,400
4 bedrooms $2,241 $43.10 $89,640

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Athens

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Athens has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,180 in 35611 to $1,440 in 35613.

1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Limestone County ($1,341).

  • 35611 $1,180$1,530
  • 35613 $1,440$1,860

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Athens when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Athens

HUD lists 14 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Athens. These are the largest.

  • Roberts Apartments 1401 N Malone St, Athens 35611 239 low-income homes · For families (256) 232-5300
  • Oakview Apts 20844 Juniper Pvt Cir, Athens 35611 84 low-income homes · 1 bd: 20 · 2 bd: 42 · 3 bd: 22 · In service since 2008 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Elmwood Apts 1410 E Elm St, Athens 35611 80 low-income homes · For families (256) 232-0110
  • Montclair 17984 Arrowhead Cir, Athens 35611 72 low-income homes · 1 bd: 18 · 2 bd: 54 · In service since 2005 · For older adults, people with disabilities
  • Woodridge Apartments 1200 Woodridge Dr, Athens 35611 72 low-income homes · For families (256) 233-2173

See all 16 buildings in Limestone County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Athens

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Limestone County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Athens

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Athens or Limestone County. The ones below are statewide in Alabama: they work in Athens the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Alabama

  • Step Up

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority program with down payment assistance of 4% of the price (up to $10,000) as a 10-year second mortgage, alongside a 30-year fixed mortgage. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • First Step Mortgage Revenue Bonds

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority 30-year low-rate mortgage, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, with down payment assistance of 4% of the price, up to $10,000, as a ten-year second mortgage. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • Affordable Income Subsidy Grant

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority grant for closing costs with an HFA Advantage conventional loan: 1% of the loan if you earn up to 50% of the area median, or half a percent if you earn 50% to 80%. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Athens

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Athens, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Community Action Partnership of North Alabama, Inc.

    1909 Central Pkwy SW, Decatur · 14 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (256) 355-7843

  • Nid-Hca Madison

    1525 Perimeter Pkwy NW, Huntsville · 16 miles away

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 5 more
    (256) 850-3132

  • Community Action Partnership, Huntsville/Madison & Limestone Counties, Inc

    3516 Stringfield Rd NW, Huntsville · 19 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (256) 851-9800

All counseling agencies in Alabama

Help in Spanish near Athens

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Athens

HUD’s record names them for Athens or Limestone County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Athens, Al Public housing (256) 232-5300

All housing agencies in Alabama Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Athens, with the typical home value.

Everything about Limestone County Housing in Alabama

Neighboring counties

If Limestone County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Athens.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Athens

Short answers with the numbers for Athens and all of Limestone County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Athens?

The typical home value in Athens is $270,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Limestone County it is $281,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Athens?

Typical rent in Athens is $899 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Limestone County is $1,341.

What is the FHA loan limit in Athens?

Athens uses the FHA limit for all of Limestone County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Athens?

The typical homeowner in Athens pays $1,033 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.38% of the home’s value; in Limestone County, the rate is 0.32%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Athens?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Limestone County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).