Metro area profile · Georgia
Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area market data
How the Athens-Clarke County metro area compares with other metro areas for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 224,148
- +3.9% since 2020
- Households
- 86,101
- Median household income
- $65,608
- +39.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $310,200
- Jobs located here
- 94,787
- Highest market score
- 71
- Oil change and quick lube, #44 of 290 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Athens-Clarke County metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Athens-Clarke County metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Athens-Clarke County metro area has an estimated 224,148 people and 86,101 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Athens-Clarke County metro area grew 3.9%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Athens-Clarke County metro area is $65,608, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 39.0%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Athens-Clarke County metro area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 134, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (71).
Of the business types scored in the Athens-Clarke County metro area, oil change and quick-lube shops (71), laundromats (70) and pet grooming and boarding businesses (69) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For oil change and quick-lube shops, that ranks #44 of 290 scored metro areas.
The Athens-Clarke County metro area takes in 4 counties: Clarke County, Oconee County, Madison County and Oglethorpe County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pest control companies (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for barbershops (38% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Athens-Clarke County metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Athens-Clarke County metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil change and quick lube | 71 | #44 of 290 | 5 | 0.6 | $16.5M | 120 | 4 |
| Laundromats | 70 | #64 of 364 | 8 | 0.9 | $19.7M | 157 | 4 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 69 | #55 of 386 | 28 | 3.3 | $2.6M | 104 | 11 |
| Auto repair shops | 68 | #67 of 387 | 169 | 19.6 | $488K | 110 | 68 |
| Insurance agencies | 68 | #89 of 387 | 133 | 15.4 | $1.7M | 135 | 90 |
| Auto repair and car care | 67 | #73 of 387 | 289 | 33.6 | $286K | 106 | 103 |
| Child care and preschools | 62 | #99 of 387 | 39 | 4.5 | $978K | 98 | 40 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 61 | #110 of 387 | 54 | 6.3 | $4.4M | 93 | 54 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 60 | #98 of 373 | 23 | 2.7 | Index only | 141 | 12 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 60 | #130 of 381 | 23 | 2.7 | $3.6M | 116 | 20 |
| Home inspectors | 59 | #69 of 243 | 5 | 0.6 | Index only | 96 | 4 |
| Home repair trades | 59 | #120 of 387 | 102 | 11.8 | $2.3M | 96 | 131 |
| Car washes and detailing | 59 | #126 of 387 | 29 | 3.4 | $2.8M | 113 | 15 |
| Funeral homes | 58 | #133 of 377 | 15 | 1.7 | $669K | 99 | 3 |
| House cleaning | 56 | #128 of 375 | 22 | 2.6 | $5.6M | 87 | 42 |
| Roofing and gutters | 55 | #148 of 381 | 28 | 3.3 | $8.5M | 100 | 18 |
| Pet stores | 54 | #165 of 382 | 18 | 2.1 | $4.1M | 91 | 6 |
| Electricians | 53 | #173 of 383 | 20 | 2.3 | $11.9M | 99 | 59 |
| Barbershops | 52 | #175 of 387 | 28 | 3.3 | $2.6M | 140 | 6 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 52 | #182 of 387 | 66 | 7.7 | $4.7M | 114 | 60 |
| Gas stations | 52 | #185 of 387 | 120 | 13.9 | $2.2M | 92 | 100 |
| Chiropractors | 51 | #179 of 386 | 35 | 4.1 | $2.7M | 111 | 24 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 51 | #191 of 386 | 31 | 3.6 | $3M | 96 | 11 |
| Dry cleaners | 48 | #158 of 272 | 9 | 1.0 | $17.5M | 112 | 8 |
| Hair salons | 48 | #200 of 387 | 168 | 19.5 | $441K | 102 | 50 |
| Grocery stores | 48 | #211 of 387 | 48 | 5.6 | $10.5M | 113 | 40 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 45 | #222 of 387 | 91 | 10.6 | $1M | 104 | 77 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 43 | #229 of 385 | 57 | 6.6 | $2.2M | 74 | 114 |
| Tire shops | 43 | #244 of 386 | 43 | 5.0 | $1.9M | 77 | 14 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 41 | #253 of 387 | 121 | 14.1 | $2.6M | 84 | 187 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 41 | #287 of 387 | 350 | 40.6 | $211K | 99 | 102 |
| Convenience stores | 40 | #260 of 387 | 86 | 10.0 | $5.8M | 74 | 23 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 40 | #263 of 387 | 171 | 19.9 | $2.9M | 87 | 63 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 40 | #270 of 387 | 104 | 12.1 | $1.2M | 70 | 172 |
| Nail salons | 40 | #297 of 387 | 51 | 5.9 | $1.5M | 87 | 16 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 39 | #282 of 387 | 94 | 10.9 | $3.3M | 90 | 54 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 37 | #283 of 387 | 919 | 106.7 | $339K | 91 | 409 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 37 | #286 of 387 | 209 | 24.3 | $754K | 86 | 90 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 37 | #291 of 387 | 524 | 60.9 | $595K | 90 | 161 |
| Real estate | 37 | #314 of 387 | 316 | 36.7 | Index only | 92 | 244 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 36 | #325 of 387 | 252 | 29.3 | Index only | 92 | 145 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 35 | #293 of 387 | 159 | 18.5 | $991K | 78 | 78 |
| Pest control | 34 | #283 of 345 | 25 | 2.9 | $4.9M | 48 | 16 |
| Pet businesses | 34 | #312 of 387 | 119 | 13.8 | $622K | 71 | 59 |
| Pizza | 34 | #314 of 387 | 83 | 9.6 | $3.8M | 74 | 187 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 32 | #341 of 387 | 38 | 4.4 | $1.6M | 79 | 29 |
| Property management | 31 | #339 of 374 | 36 | 4.2 | Index only | 63 | 57 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 29 | #170 of 197 | 5 | 0.6 | $18.6M | 76 | 21 |
| Gyms | 28 | #359 of 387 | 64 | 7.4 | $943K | 72 | 41 |
| Spas and skin care | 28 | #370 of 387 | 99 | 11.5 | $748K | 85 | 30 |
| Veterinarians | 26 | #351 of 384 | 51 | 5.9 | $1.5M | 53 | 42 |
| Physical therapy | 26 | #357 of 386 | 58 | 6.7 | $1.6M | 67 | 41 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 24 | #360 of 387 | 803 | 93.3 | $116K | 76 | 404 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 24 | #380 of 387 | 130 | 15.1 | $464K | 70 | 70 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 20 | #345 of 347 | 28 | 3.3 | $2.2M | 53 | 41 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 20 | #362 of 387 | 95 | 11.0 | $978K | 55 | 230 |
Household spending in the Athens-Clarke County metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $82.5M | $958 | 100 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $264.2M | $3,069 | 118 |
| Food away from home | $311.7M | $3,621 | 89 |
| Groceries | $503M | $5,841 | 92 |
| Personal care products and services | $74M | $860 | 86 |
| Child care and other personal services | $38.1M | $443 | 76 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $60.4M | $701 | 71 |
| Medical and dental services | $92.9M | $1,079 | 84 |
| Pets | $74M | $859 | 95 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $157.6M | $1,830 | 89 |
| Vehicle insurance | $225.2M | $2,616 | 134 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $237.8M | $2,762 | 92 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $122.9M | $1,427 | 101 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.3B | $14,651 | 88 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Athens-Clarke County metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 224,148+3.9% since 2020
- Households
- 86,101
- Median age
- 36.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 56%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 1,025 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 215
- Median household income
- $65,608+39.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $94,551
- Median home value
- $310,200
- Jobs located here
- 94,787
- Daytime population
- 224,908Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Athens-Clarke County metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Athens-Clarke County metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Athens-Clarke County metro area 4
- Clarke County, GA129,609 people
- Oconee County, GA43,551 people
- Madison County, GA31,528 people
- Oglethorpe County, GA15,509 people
Other markets based in Georgia 12
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area6,256,377 people
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area624,181 people
- Savannah, GA metro area418,285 people
- Columbus, GA-AL metro area325,615 people
- Macon-Bibb County, GA metro area234,943 people
- Gainesville, GA metro area212,705 people
- Warner Robins, GA metro area198,209 people
- Valdosta, GA metro area150,188 people
- Albany, GA metro area146,018 people
- Dalton, GA metro area144,160 people
- Brunswick-St. Simons, GA metro area115,074 people
- Rome, GA metro area99,693 people
Questions
How fast is the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Athens-Clarke County metro area at 224,148 people in 2025, up 3.9% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 86,101 households. Median household income rose 39.0% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area spend?
Households in the Athens-Clarke County metro area spend about $1.3B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $503M on groceries and $311.7M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Athens-Clarke County metro area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 134, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (71).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Athens-Clarke County metro area are for oil change and quick-lube shops (71), laundromats (70) and pet grooming and boarding businesses (69). The Athens-Clarke County metro area ranks #44 of 290 scored metro areas for oil change and quick-lube shops.
How does the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Athens-Clarke County metro area is $65,608 a year, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $310,200, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Athens-Clarke County metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pest control companies (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for barbershops (38% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Athens-Clarke County metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Athens-Clarke County metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Georgia · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Athens-Clarke County metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Athens-Clarke County metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.