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Athens, WV

Town in Mercer County, West Virginia.

Population

1,494

Land area

0.4sq mi

People per sq mi

3,708

ZIP codes

0

Athens and its ZIP codes

Full map

Athens at a glance

  • Athens is about 50 times as dense as West Virginia as a whole.
  • Households here earn a median of $56,667 a year, 5% less than the West Virginia figure of $59,608.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $168,100 (3% above West Virginia) and median rent is $975 a month.

Local data for Athens, WV

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Athens, WV, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$56,667

Poverty rate

19.4%

Median home value

$168,100

Median rent

$975/mo

Homeownership

74.1%

Bachelor's or higher

47.8%

Median age

21.1

Average commute

17.6 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (139), German Americans (124), Italian Americans (42).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Mercer County. PPP loans are for Athens.

Details

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Aug 2026, -0.5 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$51,374

19,507 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$50,206

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$487M

FY 2026, $8,162 per person

Mercer County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Athens, WV, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone45.6%
  • Carpooled20.8%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked17.1%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other4.8%
  • Worked from home11.6%

Average one-way commute: 17.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Athens, WV, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: landslide

Storm events since 1996

498

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

187

0.8% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

82° / 22°F

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Athens, WV, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

33.9%

U.S. 33.3% +0.6 pts

Diabetes

10.4%

U.S. 12.1% -1.7 pts

Smoking

15.3%

U.S. 12.8% +2.5 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

8.4%

U.S. 11.1% -2.7 pts

Cities near Athens

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
PrincetonCity5.8 mi3
OakvaleTown6.7 mi0.4
Glen Lyn, VATown9.3 mi0.6
LashmeetCensus-designated place10 mi0.8
Rich Creek, VATown11 mi0.8
PeterstownTown12 mi0.3
MatoakaCensus-designated place13 mi0.3
Narrows, VATown13 mi1.3
Rocky Gap, VACensus-designated place14 mi0.2
MontcalmCensus-designated place14 mi2.7
GhentCensus-designated place15 mi1.3
BluewellCensus-designated place15 mi4.5
BluefieldCity16 mi9
Brush ForkCensus-designated place16 mi1.9
Pearisburg, VATown17 mi3.2
CovelCensus-designated place17 mi0.2

Frequently asked questions

What county is Athens, WV in?
Athens is in Mercer County, West Virginia.
What is the population of Athens, WV?
About 1,494 people live in Athens, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Athens?
Nearby places include Princeton (5.8 mi), Oakvale (6.7 mi), Glen Lyn, VA (9.3 mi), Lashmeet (10 mi), Rich Creek, VA (11 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023