Why Move to Athens, Alabama?

If you’re looking for a change of scenery or find yourself looking to locate to a new residential area due to a new job, you may need to look no further than Athens, Alabama. Our real estate agent is happy to help answer your questions about Athens, but you may find this article a good starting point when you decide if Athens is for you.

The Weather and the Land

Athens, Alabama is currently home to about 25,000 people and is located close to Decatur and Huntsville. Situated in northern Alabama, Athens is a mid-sized city and is comfortable most of the year. Though July and August tend to be warm and humid, with highs near 90, spring and fall offer very pleasant temperatures, and the average high during the winter months is around 50 degrees. Athens is also just a few miles north of Wheeler Lake and beside two major highways, US Highway 72 to Huntsville and I-65 to Decatur.

How Much Does it Cost?

Residential costs of living in Athens are an average of 12% lower than the rest of the United States, making Athens more affordable on average.

• Home prices recently have ranged from $29,000 to $500,000 and up.
• Overall, median home prices (for condos and standard homes) are about $151,000.
• Buying a home in Athens may be a good idea as home prices tend to rise by 7.8% each year.

This means that buying a home now and selling later offers a high chance at making a profit. Remember, we’re here to help you purchase an affordable home and possibly an investment, so contact us today.

Employment

Unemployment in Athens is just 3.5% compared to the national average which is 3.9%. Jobs in Athens are increasing at the same percentage per year (3.5%.) In Athens, the top industries include production, management, education, metalworking, labor, building, and grounds keeping. Residents of Athens, on average, travel about 22 minutes to work every day, compared to the national average of 26 minutes.

Notable Employers in and around Athens:

• Steelcase, Inc.
• TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
• Athens State University
• Limestone County Schools

Education

Athens is home to four public high schools and three private high schools. In addition, ten public elementary schools are available to students. Athens is also home to Athens State University and there are five other collage-level institutions within 50 miles of Athens. Some of them include:

• The University of Alabama (located in Huntsville)
• The University of North Alabama (in North Florence)
• John C Calhoun State Community College
• Alabama A & M University

The Athens-Limestone Public Library has over 60,000 books and about 35,000 ebooks available to the public, and over 80 state databases as well as over 3,000 audio materials.

Entertainment

There is no shortage of things to do in Athens and in nearby areas.

• Plenty of parks are available, including Fairview Park and several others.
• For history buffs, the Alabama Veterans’ Museum & Archives can offer an afternoon of education and entertainment. It was voted Attraction of the Year in Alabama by the the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.
• The Donnell House is an historical museum with an emphasis on holding festivals and special events throughout the year.

If you decide to make Athens, Alabama, your home, whether it’s to find employment in a growing community and strong economy or to make an important investment in a home, contact our real estate agent, Hobert Pruitt, for all of your residential needs in the Decatur, AL area. We are happy to help!