Neighborhood in Athens, Henderson County

Living in Central Athens, Athens

D

2nd of 3areas in Athens
Overall score 19 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Athens overall: C

Central Athens covers part of Athens, TX, home to about 3,500 people. It gets a D, in the bottom quarter of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 2nd of 3 areas we score in Athens. It does best on getting around and worst on health.

  • Short commutes
  • Jobs and income scores low (16 of 100)
  • Health scores low (8 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.9 mi
Pharmacy0.5 mi
Park0.6 mi
Cafe1.1 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.9 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.9 mi
Childcare0.8 mi
Library1.4 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
3,540
Median rent
$1,130
Median home value
$188,000
Household income
$61,500
Average commute
18 min
Homes owned
66%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Central Athens

Central Athens is an area in Athens with about 3,500 residents, homes built around 1975, mostly owner-occupied (66%) and 32% of households with children.

Our grade for Central Athens is D. That puts it 2nd of 3 areas we grade in Athens, a city that gets a C overall.

Pros of living in Central Athens

No clear standouts in our data.

Cons of living in Central Athens

  • Higher unemployment. 9.0% of the labor force is out of work, against 4.3% across Athens.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes and strong wind as very high in this part of town.

Central Athens report card

Each grade compares Central Athens with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade C+

    Median rent $1,130, homes cost 3.1x income.

    51 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D

    Median household income $61,500, 9.0% unemployed.

    16 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade C-

    Nearby schools average 77 of 100 on the state rating.

    34 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 327 violent crimes per 100k, 1,040 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade C

    Some everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    41 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade A-

    Average commute 18 min, 4.0% work from home.

    88 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade D

    21% have a bachelor’s degree.

    23 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D-

    25% of adults uninsured.

    8 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D

    66% of homes owner-occupied.

    16 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade D-

    75% of homes have broadband.

    8 of 100 vs TX areas

Central Athens compared with Athens

Better than Athens

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 66%8 points higher than Athens (58%)
  • Average commute: 18 min11% lower than Athens (21 min)

Worse than Athens

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 70%16 points higher than Athens (54%)
  • Vacant homes: 21%8 points higher than Athens (13%)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 75%7 points lower than Athens (82%)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • BBel Air ElementaryElementary, Athens ISD0.5 mi
  • CAthens MiddleMiddle, Athens ISD1.6 mi
  • CAthens High SchoolHigh, Athens ISD1.6 mi

Cost of living in Central Athens

Median rent in Central Athens is $1,130 a month, about the same as the Athens median. A household would need about $45,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $188,000, 11% lower than the Athens median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,240 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereAthensTexas
Median rentAbout the same as Athens$1,130$1,112$1,403
Median home value11% lower than Athens$188,000$210,800$283,800
Home value to incomeAbout the same as Athens3.1x3.1x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent16 points higher than Athens70%54%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them8 points higher than Athens66%58%63%
Vacant homes8 points higher than Athens21%13%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Athens197519781992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,240
Mortgage payment
$1,029
Property tax
$211
Median rent, for comparison
$1,130

Based on a $188,000 home in Central Athens, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereAthensTexas
Median household income10% lower than Athens$61,500$67,984$78,476
Unemployment rate5 points higher than Athens9.0%4.3%5.3%
People below the poverty line3 points higher than Athens16%13%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higherAbout the same as Athens21%21%34%
Average commute11% lower than Athens18 min21 min27 min
Workers who work from homeAbout the same as Athens4.0%3.1%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit1 points higher than Athens3.6%2.6%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet7 points lower than Athens75%82%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingLow
  • HurricanesModerate
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailHigh
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresHigh
  • Winter stormsHigh
  • Strong windVery high

Who lives in Central Athens

Under 1827%
18 to 3422%
35 to 6424%
65 and over27%
Race and ethnicity
White59%
Hispanic or Latino34%
Black4.3%
Asian0%
Other or more than one race2.5%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Athens

  1. 1B-Northeast AthensMedian rent $1,120
  2. 3FNorthwest AthensMedian rent $780

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. D-Central TerrellTerrell
  2. D+Central VictoriaVictoria
  3. D+Saddlewood ApartmentsBryan

Questions about Central Athens

Is Central Athens a good place to live?

Central Athens covers part of Athens, TX, home to about 3,500 people. It gets a D, in the bottom quarter of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 2nd of 3 areas we score in Athens. It does best on getting around and worst on health.

How much does it cost to live in Central Athens?

Renters in Central Athens pay a median of $1,130 a month, about the same as the Athens median. The median home is worth $188,000, 11% lower than the Athens median. A median home costs 3.1x the median household income, compared with 3.1x across Athens.

What schools serve Central Athens?

The closest rated public schools are Bel Air Elementary (elementary, rated B), Athens Middle (middle, rated C) and Athens High School (high, rated C). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 4 Census block groups in this part of Athens that have no neighborhood name on the map. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.