Small-town market profile · Tennessee
Athens, TN 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
- 71,590
- +8.2% since 2020
- Households
- 26,453
- Median household income
- $61,438
- Median home value
- $205,300
- Jobs located here
- 19,824
- Highest market score
- 93
- Insurance agencies, #7 of 537 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 71,590 people and 26,453 households. Population estimates show the Athens area grew 8.2% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Athens area is $61,438, 24% below the U.S. median of $80,734.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Athens area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 148, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (60).
Of the business types scored in the Athens area, insurance agencies (93); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (90); and landscaping and lawn care companies (90) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #7 of 537 scored small-town markets.
The Athens area takes in 2 counties: McMinn County and Meigs County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing and shoe stores (53% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 93 | #7 of 537 | 29 | 11.0 | $2.6M | 210 | 18 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 90 | #1 of 481 | 12 | 4.5 | $3M | 176 | 19 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 90 | #1 of 399 | 5 | 1.9 | $7.1M | 242 | 15 |
| House cleaning | 87 | #3 of 142 | 5 | 1.9 | $7.1M | 111 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 86 | #7 of 387 | 5 | 1.9 | $5.5M | 177 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 82 | #17 of 431 | 8 | 3.0 | $3.4M | 136 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 82 | #18 of 538 | 95 | 35.9 | $287K | 107 | 18 |
| Home repair trades | 81 | #9 of 526 | 26 | 9.8 | $2.7M | 109 | 19 |
| Auto repair shops | 81 | #21 of 538 | 55 | 20.8 | $495K | 111 | 12 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 80 | #18 of 538 | 89 | 33.6 | $997K | 150 | 38 |
| Child care and preschools | 80 | #18 of 454 | 6 | 2.3 | $1.6M | 163 | 12 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 80 | #28 of 538 | 179 | 67.7 | $495K | 134 | 92 |
| Veterinarians | 79 | #23 of 398 | 9 | 3.4 | $2.3M | 86 | 5 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 76 | #53 of 536 | 31 | 11.7 | $1.5M | 165 | 8 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 76 | #53 of 536 | 20 | 7.6 | $2.2M | 177 | 8 |
| Gyms | 75 | #27 of 506 | 12 | 4.5 | $1.3M | 100 | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 75 | #48 of 441 | 11 | 4.2 | $2.5M | 98 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 74 | #33 of 535 | 22 | 8.3 | $710K | 107 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 74 | #38 of 527 | 28 | 10.6 | $749K | 85 | 9 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 73 | #38 of 507 | 14 | 5.3 | $6.3M | 153 | 11 |
| Hair salons | 73 | #41 of 538 | 45 | 17.0 | $474K | 110 | 4 |
| Convenience stores | 70 | #88 of 529 | 26 | 9.8 | $5.7M | 73 | 4 |
| Pizza | 69 | #84 of 520 | 18 | 6.8 | $4.9M | 97 | 42 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 68 | #68 of 476 | 19 | 7.2 | $3.6M | 76 | 12 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 67 | #69 of 533 | 51 | 19.3 | Index only | 133 | 5 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 67 | #75 of 538 | 85 | 32.1 | $251K | 118 | 9 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 66 | #29 of 177 | 8 | 3.0 | Index only | 118 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 66 | #95 of 529 | 20 | 7.6 | $4.4M | 120 | 11 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 65 | #134 of 538 | 142 | 53.7 | $188K | 123 | 47 |
| Real estate | 63 | #110 of 536 | 66 | 24.9 | Index only | 129 | 14 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 63 | #152 of 538 | 57 | 21.5 | $2.6M | 77 | 15 |
| Nail salons | 62 | #116 of 387 | 10 | 3.8 | $2.1M | 128 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 60 | #124 of 387 | 15 | 5.7 | $1.4M | 55 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | 60 | #135 of 400 | 11 | 4.2 | $2.4M | 101 | 7 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 60 | #182 of 537 | 37 | 14.0 | $2.4M | 79 | 42 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 57 | #149 of 400 | 11 | 4.2 | $2.4M | 77 | 4 |
| Spas and skin care | 57 | #178 of 504 | 19 | 7.2 | $1.1M | 128 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 56 | #157 of 377 | 11 | 4.2 | $1.9M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 55 | #147 of 365 | 12 | 4.5 | $346K | 51 | 7 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 54 | #210 of 458 | 21 | 7.9 | $1.3M | 71 | 20 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 53 | #169 of 378 | 9 | 3.4 | $1.7M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 53 | #233 of 526 | 24 | 9.1 | $1.1M | 113 | 16 |
| Gas stations | 53 | #240 of 536 | 65 | 24.6 | $1.4M | 58 | 46 |
| Grocery stores | 53 | #246 of 506 | 22 | 8.3 | $6.8M | 73 | 11 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | Index only | 35 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | $17.3M | 204 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $8.9M | 372 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $15M | 96 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $23M | 192 | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $15M | 120 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | Index only | 221 | 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $13.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $17.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $21M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $26.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $15.6M | Too few | 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 | $27.3M | $1,030 | 108 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $89.4M | $3,378 | 130 |
| Food away from home | $88.7M | $3,353 | 82 |
| Groceries | $149.2M | $5,638 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $21.3M | $806 | 80 |
| Child care and other personal services | $9.8M | $370 | 64 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $15.6M | $590 | 60 |
| Medical and dental services | $26.7M | $1,009 | 78 |
| Pets | $21M | $793 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $45M | $1,701 | 83 |
| Vehicle insurance | $76.4M | $2,889 | 148 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $69.1M | $2,613 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $35.5M | $1,341 | 95 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $368.8M | $13,941 | 84 |
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
- 71,590+8.2% since 2020
- Households
- 26,453
- Median age
- 43.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 625 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 109
- Median household income
- $61,438
- Average household income
- $81,180
- Median home value
- $205,300
- Jobs located here
- 19,824
- Daytime population
- 61,141Residents 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 2
- McMinn County, TN54,884 people
- Meigs County, TN13,343 people
Other markets based in Tennessee 12
- Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN metro area2,079,596 people
- Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area1,341,924 people
- Knoxville, TN metro area932,241 people
- Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area575,812 people
- Clarksville, TN-KY metro area334,564 people
- Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area310,842 people
- Johnson City, TN metro area210,729 people
- Jackson, TN metro area181,719 people
- Cleveland, TN metro area128,963 people
- Morristown, TN metro area122,533 people
- Cookeville, TN area145,812 people
- Sevierville, TN area99,652 people
Questions
How fast is the Athens, TN area growing?
Population estimates put the Athens area at 71,590 people in 2025, up 8.2% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 26,453 households.
How much do households in the Athens, TN area spend?
Households in the Athens area spend about $368.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $149.2M on groceries and $89.4M on gasoline and other fuels. Set against the U.S., households in the Athens area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 148, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (60).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Athens, TN area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Athens area are for insurance agencies (93); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (90); and landscaping and lawn care companies (90). The Athens area ranks #7 of 537 scored small-town markets for insurance agencies.
How does the Athens, TN area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Athens area is $61,438 a year, 24% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 8.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $205,300, 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 gas stations (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing and shoe stores (53% 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. 44 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 Tennessee · 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.