The George S. Houston Historic District is a historic district in Athens, Alabama. The district lies to the west and north of the public square, and features homes of some of the town's most prominent residents.

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8 on the National Register · #22 in ALHistoric places →

Know Athens

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Athens

City in and county seat of Limestone County, Alabama

1818Established

25,406Population

40.1 sq miArea

798 ftElevation

Athens is a city in and the county seat of Limestone County, in the U.S. state of Alabama; it is included in the Huntsville–Decatur–Albertville combined statistical area. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city is 25,407.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Athens ranks

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#10Most new homes in AL #37Best schools in AL #42Fastest growing in AL All AL rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code35611, 35612, 35613

Area code256

Living in Athens

Housing in Athens

$308K▲ 1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Athens home is worth about $308,000, up 1% in a year, 28% above the Alabama typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market94

Sale-to-list98.8%

Sold in May71

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Athens

Safety Grade C

Athens reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 71% report less. Within Alabama, it does better than 51% of towns.

Violent crime per 1,000

Athens 1.5

Alabama 3.5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Athens 18.7

Alabama 15

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Athens

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About one in 4 of Athens’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Huntsville (31%), Decatur (7%) and Madison (6%). Half commute less than 15 miles.

Huntsville

31%

Decatur

Madison

Birmingham

26%Work in townlive and work in Athens 15 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 14,873Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Athens →

Health in Athens

Health Grade C

Healthier than 34% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Alabama

1worse than AL

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 31 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▼ 11 close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

9.2%More adults who have had cancerAL 8.2% · worse

Care nearby

Athens Limestone HospitalAthens · 2.1 mi · ER

Athens Family Health CenterAthens · 2.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Athens · CMS · HRSAHealth in Athens →

Natural hazards in Athens

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 55% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🏚️ Earthquakes

17Does Athens flood?paid flood claims since 1980 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Athens MapAthens vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Athens →

Climate in Athens

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Athens has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 31°, and about 1 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

53° / 33°Winter

72° / 49°Spring

89° / 67°Summer

74° / 50°Fall

How much snow does Athens get?About 1 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 12, with the last in spring around Mar 20.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.7° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Athens →

Schools in Athens

All Athens schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Athens’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 59% of Alabama’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#37Best public schoolsof 180 in AL

DistrictAthens CitySchools11

Athens Intermediate School A-Elementary · Grades 4–5 · 641 students Athens Elementary School AElementary · Grades PK–3 · 474 students Julian Newman Elementary School AElementary · Grades PK–3 · 409 students Brookhill Elementary School AElementary · Grades PK–3 · 380 students James L Cowart Elementary School A-Elementary · Grades PK–3 · 332 students Athens Middle School B-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 935 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within AL. Ratings are from neighbors.