What percentage of people rent in Athens, WV?

Name: Renters and owners in Athens, WV, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

25.9% (±10.9 points) of the occupied homes in Athens, WV are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 90 renting households against 258 that own their home.

In Athens, the share of households that rent went from 30.4% in 2015–2019 to 25.9% in 2020–2024 (−4.5 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 25.9% (±10.9 points)
Renting households: 90 (±51)
Median renter income: $36,833 (±$11,127)

Who rents and who owns in Athens

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Athens	Mercer County	West Virginia	United States
Renter-occupied share	25.9% (±10.9 points)	27.1% (±2.5 points)	25.1% (±0.3 points)	34.8%
Renting households	90 (±51)	6,572 (±669)	183,060 (±2,623)	45,017,354
Owning households	258 (±80)	17,652 (±625)	545,595 (±3,466)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.5 (±0.7)	2.2 (±0.2)	2.1 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.8 (±0.9)	2.4 (±0.1)	2.5 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$36,833 (±$11,127)	$31,196 (±$3,198)	$33,142 (±$752)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$63,526 (±$8,597)	$63,773 (±$4,130)	$70,961 (±$731)	$100,009

In Athens, the renter share is not measurably different from Mercer County (27.1%).

It is not measurably different from West Virginia (25.1%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (34.8%).

In Mercer County, Athens ranks 5 of 7 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 153 of 272.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How renting in Athens has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	30.4% (±11.6 points)	25.9% (±10.9 points)	−4.5 percentage points	Not a measurable change
Median gross rent	$663 (±$56)	$975 (±$99)	+47.1%	Up after inflation
Median household income	$53,333 (±$8,551)	$56,667 (±$28,384)	+6.3%	No measurable change after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near Athens

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Athens
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
Athens	—	25.9% (±10.9 points)	—
Princeton	5.8 mi	43.2% (±6.6 points)	Higher
Oakvale	6.5 mi	57.8% (±39.5 points)	Not measurably different
Glen Lyn	9.1 mi	21.4% (±19.6 points)	Not measurably different
Rich Creek	11 mi	41.0% (±13.5 points)	Not measurably different
Peterstown	12 mi	33.2% (±20.7 points)	Not measurably different
Narrows	13 mi	21.8% (±7.6 points)	Not measurably different
Bluewell	15 mi	35.7% (±12.9 points)	Not measurably different
Bluefield	15 mi	34.9% (±5.4 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Princeton, WV (43.2%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Households that rent across Mercer County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	Oakvale	57.8% (±39.5 points)
2	Princeton	43.2% (±6.6 points)
3	Bluewell	35.7% (±12.9 points)
4	Bluefield	34.9% (±5.4 points)
5	Athens	25.9% (±10.9 points)
6	Brush Fork	10.1% (±11.4 points)
7	Bramwell	7.1% (±7.2 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Athens

How many renters are there in Athens?

Athens has an estimated 90 (±51) renting households, 25.9% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in Athens?

In Athens, the share of households that rent went from 30.4% in 2015–2019 to 25.9% in 2020–2024 (−4.5 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How big are renting households in Athens?

A renting household in Athens has 2.5 people on average, against 2.8 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in Athens?

The median renting household in Athens, WV has an income of $36,833 (±$11,127) a year, against $63,526 for households that own their home.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Athens town, West Virginia (place:03292, in state:54).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.