Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance): Demographics & People
About 127,345 people live in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), in 53,643 households. Population grew 0.3% from 126,987 (2022) to 127,345 (2024). Median age 29.4 years. (6.2y younger than Georgia). Children under 18 are 17% of the population. Population is 54% White (non-Hispanic) and 26% Black. 45% of households are family-led. County is losing 3,542 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 37% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Georgia avg 2.6).
- 55% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Georgia 40%).
- 41 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Georgia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.3% from 126,987 (2022) to 127,345 (2024) — close to the U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~127,701 (extrapolated at 0.1%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 128,176.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 128,671 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.3% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 126,987 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 127,345 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 127,345 people (vs Georgia 37,381) |
| Population Estimate | 128,176 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 29.4y is 9.5 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 17% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 29.4 years (vs Georgia 35.6y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 16.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 127,345 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 21,137 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 53,140.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 37,310.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 15,758 |
| Population under 18 | 21,137 |
| Median age | 29.4 years (vs Georgia 35.6y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 127,345 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 73,144 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 33,260 |
| Asian residents | 5,452 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 14,597 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 58.7% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | moderately diverse |
| Asian population | 4.2% (vs Georgia 2.6%) |
| Black population | 25.7% (vs Georgia 40.5%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 11.9% (vs Georgia 8.4%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 53.8% (vs Georgia 38.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.0% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 10% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 72,408 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 40,750 |
| Share born in this state | 56.9% |
| Share born in another state | 43.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 32.0% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 10.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 12,245 |
| From Europe | 1,168 |
| From Asia | 58 |
| From Africa | 3,846 |
| From Latin America | 84 |
| Census Foreign Born · Caribbean | 236 |
Households & Family Composition
53,643 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 45% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 24,522 families, 21% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 21,265 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 24,522 |
| Married couples with children | 5,078 |
| Single-parent households | 1,048 |
| Average household size | 2.18 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 9.5% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 1,727 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 900 |
| Family households | 24,305 households (vs Georgia 8,896) |
| Households that are families | 45.3% (vs Georgia 60.1%) |
| Total households | 53,643 households (vs Georgia 14,704) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 26.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 3,542 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 26.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 93,251 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 96,793 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -3,542 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 6,781 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.4% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 10,428 residents live in group quarters (8.2% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 10,428 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 10 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | GA-10 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 13059 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 13 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 059 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Clarke |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 9.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 7.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 10.10 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 13059 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Clarke County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 6,643 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 13059 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Clarke County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 54.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 48.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 53.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 128,331 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 6 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 16.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 127,345, stable, young community, middle-class, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 127,345 people (vs Georgia 37,381) |
| Town Summary · County | Clarke County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade