2018 · Athens-Baptist-Church-wv · Wikimedia Commons
Athens’s story
Athens in pictures
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
AthensWV
A town of 1,494. Home to Concord University.
Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
Population
1,494
−8.2% since 2010
Median home value
$168K
Census ACS
Household income
$57K
median
Median age
21.1
years
Jobs based here
56
A commuter town
What makes Athens stand out
The thing Athens does most differently from other towns.
College town
42% of Athens is in college
College Scorecard · IPEDS
Athens’s report card
Now in Athens
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Athens? Is a C+ for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Athens’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →68°
Clear
H 79° · L 61°
Local news
All →- Athens-Concord Town Social announces 2026 honoreesBluefield Daily Telegraph · Aug 5
- Mercer County Man Accused of Shoving Father, Running from Deputies During Domestic IncidentLootpress · Jul 16
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Athens. Another town gets a different order.
Natural hazards
Very low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 10% of U.S. communities.
10risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
9
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Athens
Most working residents leave Athens for work: only 0% work in town. The top destinations are Princeton (24%), Bluefield (4%) and Beckley (4%). Half commute less than 9 miles.
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Athens0%
Princeton24%
Bluefield4%
Beckley4%
Charleston3%
9 mi
median commute distance
56
jobs based in Athens
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Athens has chilly winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 24 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
24″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter25–43°
Spring40–63°
Summer59–80°
Fall42–64°
Oct 10
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
Healthier than 45% of U.S. towns
Athens beats the West Virginia average on 11 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5.
C+Health Grade
32 measures vs. West Virginia
11 better16 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Athens | WV |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 10.4% | 15.9% |
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.5% | 9.6% |
| More binge drinkers | 17.3% | 14.1% |
Princeton Community Hospital Assn
6.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
92nd
percentile among WV towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Schools
Athens’s public schools outperform 45% of West Virginia districts
The public schools Athens’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 55% of West Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
B−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Elementary School | PK–5 | 233 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WV on state tests and graduationAll 1 schools →
Outdoors
0.5% of Athens is conserved land
0.2 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
0.5%conserved
0.5%
conserved · 1 of 258 acres
0.2 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Athens City Park | 0.1 mi | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Small town
1,494 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
About Athens
Town in West Virginia, United States
Athens is a town in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 944 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Bluefield micropolitan area which has a population of 107,578. Athens is the home of Concord University.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 962
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,585 ft
- ZIP code
- 24712
- Area code
- 304
More about Athens
Still missing for Athens:upcoming events