How much does it cost to rent in Athens, OH?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Athens, OH is $1,069. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Athens cheaper than other Ohio cities?

Athens is among the more affordable cities in Ohio, ranking #116 out of 128 cities at $1,069/mo.

When was Athens rent data last updated?

Athens rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · OH

Athens

Name: Average Rent Prices in Athens, OH
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 23,396·116th most expensive in Ohio·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$1,069/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+9.0%

vs US Median

-$896

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Athens · $1,069

More affordable than 96% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

34% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,069/mo, rent takes about 34% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$43,000/yr

Local median income

$38,204/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Athens's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$890

1 BR

$900

2 BR

$1,130

3 BR

$1,360

4 BR+

$1,670

Research median

$1,130/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$12,828/yr

At $1,069/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 0.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +9.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Athens, OH is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 64.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

23,396

Median income

$38,204

Median age

21.6

Renters

67.4%

Age distribution

67.5%

12.6%

Under 188%

18–3467.5%

35–5412.6%

55–645.5%

65+6.3%

Gender

49%

51%

Male49%

Female51%

Race & ethnicity

83.7%

White83.7%

Black3.8%

Hispanic4.2%

Asian3.4%

Other4.9%

Education (25+)

18.7%

64.1%

No HS diploma5.3%

HS diploma12%

Some college18.7%

Bachelor's+64.1%

Housing tenure

32.6%

67.4%

Owner32.6%

Renter67.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Athens, OH has changed in 5 years

Income

$33,524 → $38,204

up 14.0%

Population

24,507 → 23,396

down 4.5%

Renter share

68.1% → 67.4%

-0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

66.9% → 64.1%

-2.8 pts

On the earnings side, the typical household in Athens, OH now reports about $38,204, up from $33,524 in 2021. Census counts show Athens, OH losing about 1,111 residents over the five-year window, down 4.5% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 66.9% to 64.1% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Athens

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View Athens rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Athens on your salary?

At $1,069/mo, how Athens rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 14.4% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 20.3% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 17.7% income

very comfortable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 9.9% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 7.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 21.7% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 24.1% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 19.5% income

very comfortable

By apartment size

Athens rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Athens. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Athens

About renting in Athens, OH

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Athens is $1,069/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $890/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,130/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $900/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,360/mo.

At 34% of local median household income ($38,204/yr), Athens ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Athens an affordable city for renters?

Athens is considered moderate for renters. At $1,069/mo, rent takes approximately 34% of the local median household income ($38,204/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Athens slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Athens?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $43,000/year (~$21/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,069/mo in Athens. The local median household income is $38,204/yr, meaning the typical Athens household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Athens?

Rent in Athens has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Athens rent compare to other cities in Ohio?

Athens is one of the more affordable cities in Ohio for rent, ranking #116 out of 128 tracked cities at $1,069/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Athens?

Parkersburg is nearby and more affordable at $968/mo, which is $101 less than Athens.

What percentage of Athens residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 67.4% of Athens households are renters, while 32.6% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Athens has a strong rental market.