Retiring in Athens, GA

Retirement city profile: climate, cost of living, healthcare, safety and more

87°/31°

Climate (Summer/Winter)

409.2

Safety (Violent Crime/100,000)

Is Athens Right for Your Retirement?

With a reported population of 126,987, Athens offers a smaller-city setting for retirement planning. This profile brings its climate, housing, reported crime, healthcare access, walkability and natural hazard exposure into one view so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.

Potential Strengths

Moderate city size
Low riverine flooding risk
Low hurricane risk
Low wildfire risk
Low earthquake risk

Potential Tradeoffs

Hot summers
Wet climate
Higher violent crime
Higher property crime
Elevated ice storms risk

Potential advantages. FEMA and NOAA assign lower risk designations to riverine flooding, hurricane, wildfire and earthquake.

Potential tradeoffs. The average June through August high is 87°F. Annual precipitation is 51.8 inches. The reported violent crime rate is 409.2 per 100,000, 14% above the 359.1 per 100,000 US median. The reported property crime rate is 2308.8 per 100,000, 31% above the 1760.1 per 100,000 US median. FEMA and NOAA assign an elevated risk designation to ice storms.

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Climate

Summer high (Jun-Aug avg)87°F

Winter low (Dec-Feb avg)31°F

Annual snowfall0.6"

Annual precipitation51.8"

Housing & Cost of Living

Typical home value (ZHVI)Not available

Median gross rent$1,162/mo17% below the $1,400/mo US median

Safety (Reported Crime)

Violent crime rate409.2 /100,00014% above the 359.1 /100,000 US median

Property crime rate2308.8 /100,00031% above the 1760.1 /100,000 US median

Motor vehicle theft rate168.8 /100,000

Healthcare Access

Nearest hospitalSt Marys Health Care System (0.4 mi)

Hospital qualityNot Rated (CMS)

Primary care accessStrong (1,226 residents/physician)

Walkability

EPA Walkability Index7.4/20 (Below Average)

Population & City Size

Population126,987Classified as a smaller city

Elevation615 ft

Natural Disaster Risk

Riverine floodingRelatively Low

Coastal floodingN/A

TornadoRelatively Moderate

HurricaneRelatively Low

WildfireVery Low

EarthquakeRelatively Low

Ice stormsRelatively High

TsunamiN/A

Sources & Freshness

Crime: FBI UCR/NIBRS · Climate: NOAA Climate Normals · Natural disaster risk: FEMA National Risk Index & NOAA · Hospital location & distance: HIFLD · Hospital quality rating: CMS Hospital Compare · Primary care access: HRSA county-level provider data · Home value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · Rent: Census ACS place-level data · Population & elevation: US Census Bureau · Walkability: EPA National Walkability Index.
National median/average figures used for comparison (home value, rent, crime, precipitation) are recalculated annually from the same source datasets above.
Data last refreshed: August 2026.
Figures are comparative indicators and may not reflect neighborhood-level conditions. Confirm current housing, healthcare and hazard information with the cited sources before making a relocation decision.

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