Small-town market profile · Ohio
Athens, OH area market data
How the Athens area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 63,197
- +1.3% since 2020
- Households
- 23,014
- Median household income
- $56,001
- +36.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $185,000
- Jobs located here
- 18,702
- Highest market score
- 81
- Physical therapy, #14 of 400 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Athens area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Athens 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 area has an estimated 63,197 people and 23,014 households. Population estimates show the Athens area grew 1.3% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Athens area is $56,001, 31% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 36.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Athens area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 109, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (58).
Of the business types scored in the Athens area, physical therapy clinics (81), optometrists and eye clinics (81) and dentists and orthodontists (79) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For physical therapy clinics, that ranks #14 of 400 scored small-town markets.
The Athens area is made up of one county, Athens County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for funeral homes (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for spas and skin care studios (51% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Athens area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Athens area with other small-town markets 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 small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical therapy | 81 | #14 of 400 | 6 | 2.6 | $4.8M | 199 | 4 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 81 | #14 of 400 | 5 | 2.2 | $5.7M | 183 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 79 | #28 of 526 | 15 | 6.5 | $1.9M | 195 | 8 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 77 | #33 of 458 | 7 | 3.0 | $4.1M | 231 | 18 |
| Auto repair shops | 76 | #35 of 538 | 46 | 20.0 | $521K | 117 | 12 |
| Auto repair and car care | 76 | #43 of 538 | 81 | 35.2 | $296K | 110 | 20 |
| Nail salons | 72 | #40 of 387 | 5 | 2.2 | $4M | 237 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 67 | #120 of 538 | 144 | 62.6 | $200K | 131 | 39 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 66 | #72 of 387 | 5 | 2.2 | $3.3M | 130 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 65 | #92 of 426 | 10 | 4.3 | $2.9M | 120 | 6 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 64 | #91 of 538 | 58 | 25.2 | $342K | 161 | 16 |
| Tire shops | 64 | #122 of 431 | 9 | 3.9 | $2.7M | 106 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 63 | #97 of 378 | 7 | 3.0 | $2.3M | 115 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 63 | #111 of 507 | 14 | 6.1 | $5.5M | 133 | 9 |
| Spas and skin care | 63 | #117 of 504 | 13 | 5.6 | $1.5M | 174 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 62 | #122 of 441 | 6 | 2.6 | $4M | 159 | 6 |
| Electricians | 61 | #79 of 295 | 6 | 2.6 | $9.1M | 75 | 5 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 61 | #127 of 481 | 12 | 5.2 | $2.1M | 124 | 13 |
| Gyms | 61 | #135 of 506 | 13 | 5.6 | $1.2M | 96 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 61 | #170 of 536 | 37 | 16.1 | $1.1M | 123 | 10 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 61 | #173 of 536 | 26 | 11.3 | $1.5M | 121 | 10 |
| Hair salons | 59 | #158 of 538 | 36 | 15.6 | $551K | 128 | 12 |
| Home repair trades | 57 | #177 of 526 | 23 | 10.0 | $2.4M | 97 | 22 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 56 | #149 of 399 | 10 | 4.3 | $2.5M | 85 | 6 |
| Convenience stores | 55 | #237 of 529 | 23 | 10.0 | $5.5M | 70 | 5 |
| Gas stations | 54 | #226 of 536 | 36 | 15.6 | $1.7M | 72 | 23 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 54 | #248 of 538 | 48 | 20.9 | $2.6M | 78 | 13 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 51 | #274 of 535 | 27 | 11.7 | $601K | 91 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 50 | #261 of 533 | 38 | 16.5 | Index only | 140 | 6 |
| Veterinarians | 49 | #214 of 398 | 10 | 4.3 | $1.7M | 61 | 5 |
| Child care and preschools | 49 | #237 of 454 | 12 | 5.2 | $643K | 64 | 9 |
| Insurance agencies | 48 | #284 of 537 | 29 | 12.6 | $1.3M | 103 | 16 |
| Grocery stores | 48 | #287 of 506 | 18 | 7.8 | $7M | 76 | 8 |
| Pet businesses | 45 | #334 of 527 | 28 | 12.2 | $592K | 67 | 10 |
| Pet stores | 43 | #142 of 220 | 5 | 2.2 | $3.3M | 73 | 5 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 43 | #344 of 529 | 30 | 13.0 | $2.6M | 69 | 9 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 42 | #314 of 476 | 15 | 6.5 | $3.6M | 76 | 17 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 39 | #389 of 538 | 147 | 63.9 | $525K | 79 | 39 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 38 | #85 of 112 | 7 | 3.0 | $2.3M | 57 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 37 | #428 of 536 | 53 | 23.0 | Index only | 126 | 22 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 36 | #400 of 537 | 32 | 13.9 | $2.4M | 79 | 65 |
| Funeral homes | 33 | #296 of 365 | 11 | 4.8 | $267K | 39 | 5 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 30 | #460 of 538 | 274 | 119.1 | $282K | 76 | 113 |
| Property management | 21 | #176 of 180 | 14 | 6.1 | Index only | 37 | 12 |
| Pizza | 21 | #506 of 520 | 37 | 16.1 | $2.1M | 41 | 65 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.7 | $5M | 263 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.7 | $10M | 64 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.3 | $8M | 259 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.3 | $13.4M | 107 | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.3 | $9.6M | 39 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.9 | $12.5M | Too few | 7 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.9 | $27.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $24M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Athens 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 | $24M | $1,042 | 109 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $62M | $2,695 | 104 |
| Food away from home | $77.2M | $3,353 | 82 |
| Groceries | $126.8M | $5,512 | 87 |
| Personal care products and services | $19.8M | $861 | 86 |
| Child care and other personal services | $7.7M | $335 | 58 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $16.2M | $706 | 72 |
| Medical and dental services | $28.7M | $1,249 | 97 |
| Pets | $16.6M | $720 | 79 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $40.1M | $1,743 | 85 |
| Vehicle insurance | $37.5M | $1,628 | 83 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $54.4M | $2,363 | 78 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $25M | $1,085 | 77 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $290.3M | $12,615 | 76 |
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 area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 63,197+1.3% since 2020
- Households
- 23,014
- Median age
- 37.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 60%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 504 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 122
- Median household income
- $56,001+36.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $77,858
- Median home value
- $185,000
- Jobs located here
- 18,702
- Daytime population
- 59,780Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Athens area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. 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 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 area 1
- Athens County, OH61,737 people
Other markets based in Ohio 12
- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area2,270,706 people
- Columbus, OH metro area2,175,788 people
- Cleveland, OH metro area2,171,526 people
- Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area816,080 people
- Akron, OH metro area699,820 people
- Toledo, OH metro area602,322 people
- Youngstown-Warren, OH metro area427,420 people
- Canton-Massillon, OH metro area400,372 people
- Springfield, OH metro area135,158 people
- Mansfield, OH metro area125,099 people
- Sandusky, OH metro area114,575 people
- Lima, OH metro area101,348 people
Questions
How fast is the Athens, OH area growing?
Population estimates put the Athens area at 63,197 people in 2025, up 1.3% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 23,014 households. Median household income rose 36.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Athens, OH area spend?
Households in the Athens area spend about $290.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $126.8M on groceries and $77.2M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Athens area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 109, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (58).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Athens, OH area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Athens area are for physical therapy clinics (81), optometrists and eye clinics (81) and dentists and orthodontists (79). The Athens area ranks #14 of 400 scored small-town markets for physical therapy clinics.
How does the Athens, OH area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Athens area is $56,001 a year, 31% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $185,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Athens area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for funeral homes (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for spas and skin care studios (51% 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. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. 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. 45 of the 56 business types have a score in the Athens area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Athens 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 Ohio · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Athens 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 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.