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Athens, IL
City in Menard County, Illinois.
Population
2,102
Land area
1.7sq mi
People per sq mi
1,248
ZIP codes
0
Athens and its ZIP codes
Athens at a glance
- Athens is about 5.5 times as dense as Illinois as a whole.
- The median household income is $81,192, close to the Illinois median.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $164,000 (38% below Illinois) and median rent is $855 a month.
Local data for Athens, IL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Athens, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$81,192
Poverty rate
9.5%
Median home value
$164,000
Median rent
$855/mo
Homeownership
72.4%
Bachelor's or higher
24.6%
Median age
34.7
Average commute
25.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (605), Irish Americans (360), Italian Americans (77).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Menard County. PPP loans are for Athens.
Unemployment rate
3.3%
Aug 2026, -0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$42,977
1,858 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$61,789
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$90.52M
FY 2026, $7,361 per person
How people get to work
Athens, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.7%
- Carpooled12.7%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
- Worked from home9.6%
Average one-way commute: 25.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Athens, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
328
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
9
0.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 18°F
38.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Athens, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.9%
U.S. 33.3% +4.6 pts
Diabetes
10.1%
U.S. 12.1% -2.0 pts
Smoking
14.3%
U.S. 12.8% +1.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.7%
U.S. 11.1% -4.4 pts
Cities near Athens
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| CantrallVillage | 3 mi | 0.3 |
| ShermanVillage | 7.7 mi | 3.1 |
| Lake PetersburgCensus-designated place | 7.8 mi | 1.8 |
| PetersburgCity | 7.8 mi | 1.6 |
| GreenviewVillage | 8.4 mi | 0.9 |
| WilliamsvilleVillage | 9.3 mi | 1.5 |
| TallulaVillage | 11 mi | 0.5 |
| GrandviewVillage | 11 mi | 0.3 |
| SpauldingVillage | 12 mi | 0.8 |
| MiddletownVillage | 12 mi | 0.3 |
| Pleasant PlainsVillage | 12 mi | 1.3 |
| Leland GroveCity | 13 mi | 0.6 |
| RivertonVillage | 13 mi | 3.2 |
| ElkhartVillage | 13 mi | 1.9 |
| JeromeVillage | 14 mi | 0.5 |
| SpringfieldCity | 14 mi | 61.3 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Athens, IL in?
- Athens is in Menard County, Illinois.
- What is the population of Athens, IL?
- About 2,102 people live in Athens, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Athens?
- Nearby places include Cantrall (3 mi), Sherman (7.7 mi), Lake Petersburg (7.8 mi), Petersburg (7.8 mi), Greenview (8.4 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023