Athens housing market
Typical home value
$256K
▲ 3.6% 1 yr
Typical rent
$1,057/mo
▲ 0.7% 1 yr
12-month forecast
+3.1%
#131 of 546 metros
Gross rent yield
5.0%
#413 of 546 · U.S. 6.3%
Days to pending
79 days
▲ +22 days 1 yr
Listings with a price cut
30%
▲ +0.6 pts 1 yr
Key takeaways
- 1The typical home is worth $256,181, up 3.6% in a year and up 29% over five years.
- 2Zillow forecasts home values rising 3.1% over the next 12 months (U.S.: +1.1%).
- 3Typical rent is $1,057/mo (+0.7% YoY), a 5.0% gross yield, below the U.S. 6.3%.
- 4At 7.32% with 20% down, the typical home costs $1,408/mo in principal and interest, $351 more than renting.
- 5Homes go under contract in 79 days (+22 days vs last year); 30% of listings have had a price cut.
Market temperature
Buyer's market
Buyer'sNeutralSeller's
Zillow Market Heat Index: 42/100, #258 hottest of 546 metros. Below 44 favors buyers; above 55 favors sellers.
Home values and rent
How fast homes are selling
For saleNew listings
Source: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI and market activity data).
How Athens compares
| Measure | Athens | United States | Rank of 546 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home value, 1-yr change | +3.6% | +1.2% | #145 |
| Home value, 5-yr change | +28.5% | +19.7% | |
| 12-month forecast | +3.1% | +1.1% | #131 |
| Rent, 1-yr change | +0.7% | +2.7% | #496 |
| Gross rent yield | 5.0% | 6.3% | #413 |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 20.2 | 15.8 | |
| Mortgage P&I on typical home | $1,408 | $2,012 | |
| Days to pending | 79 | 56 |
Run the numbers
Rental property calculator
Cash flow on a typical Athens rental ($256K, $1,057/mo), pre-filled.
Mortgage calculator
Monthly payment on a typical Athens home.
Rent vs buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Athens?
Other Tennessee metros
Nashville, TN
$449K home$1,803 rent4.8% yield
▼ 0.5% 1 yr
Memphis, TN
$242K home$1,393 rent6.9% yield
▲ 0.1% 1 yr
Knoxville, TN
$363K home$1,725 rent5.7% yield
▲ 1.9% 1 yr
Chattanooga, TN
$319K home$1,509 rent5.7% yield
▼ 0.3% 1 yr
Clarksville, TN
$289K home$1,343 rent5.6% yield
▲ 0.2% 1 yr
Kingsport, TN
$243K home$1,330 rent6.6% yield
▲ 1.1% 1 yr
Johnson City, TN
$280K home$1,488 rent6.4% yield
▲ 1.4% 1 yr
Jackson, TN
$202K home$1,393 rent8.3% yield
▲ 0.7% 1 yr
Gross yield = 12 × typical rent ÷ typical home value, before expenses. Mortgage estimate: 20% down, 30-year fixed at the current Freddie Mac average, principal and interest only. Forecast: Zillow Home Value Forecast. Data refreshed Oct 26, 2026.