Athens, OH Demographics

A map of Athens's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	19,081	18,654	81.6%	78.2%
Multiracial	1,687	917	7.2%	3.8%
Hispanic	978	988	4.2%	4.1%
Black	860	2,090	3.7%	8.8%
Asian	759	971	3.2%	4.1%
Native American/Other	31	229	0.1%	1.0%

Athens, Ohio has an estimated population of 23,396, a slight decrease from the 23,849 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 81.6% White, 7.2% Multiracial, 4.2% Hispanic, 3.7% Black, 3.2% Asian, and 0.1% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Athens, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Athens has become considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Ohio overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Athens, that probability was 37.6% in 2020 and 32.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Athens is ranked the 72nd most populous place in Ohio, out of 1,265 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Athens was ranked the 71st most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Athens's White Population

19,081 residents of Athens, or 81.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Athens is higher than in Ohio overall, where 75.8% of the population is White. Athens ranks 1114th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,265 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Athens's White population has grown by an estimated 2.3%. White residents' share of Athens's population has increased from 78.2% to 81.6%.

Athens is less White than neighboring The Plains (86.6% White), Chauncey (92.4% White), Millfield (95.2% White), New Marshfield (82.9% White), and Albany (98.6% White).

Athens's Black Population

860 residents of Athens, or 3.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Athens is lower than in Ohio overall, where 12% of the population is Black. Athens ranks 130th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,265 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Athens's Black population has declined by an estimated 58.9%. Black residents' share of Athens's population has decreased from 8.8% to 3.7%.

Athens is more Black than neighboring The Plains (0.3% Black), Chauncey (0.3% Black), New Marshfield (0% Black), and Albany (0.5% Black). Athens is less Black than neighboring Millfield (4.8% Black).

Athens's Asian Population

759 residents of Athens, or 3.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Athens is comparable to the share in Ohio overall, where 2.5% of the population is Asian. Athens ranks 65th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,265 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Athens's Asian population has declined by an estimated 21.8%. Asian residents' share of Athens's population has decreased from 4.1% to 3.2%.

Athens is more Asian than neighboring Chauncey (0% Asian), Millfield (0% Asian), New Marshfield (0% Asian), and Albany (0% Asian). Athens is less Asian than neighboring The Plains (7.5% Asian).

Athens's Hispanic Population

978 residents of Athens, or 4.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Athens is comparable to the share in Ohio overall, where 4.8% of the population is Hispanic. Athens ranks 255th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,265 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Athens's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 1.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Athens's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.2%.

Athens is more Hispanic than neighboring The Plains (0.6% Hispanic), Chauncey (1.1% Hispanic), Millfield (0% Hispanic), and Albany (0% Hispanic). Athens is less Hispanic than neighboring New Marshfield (17.1% Hispanic).

Athens's Native American/Other Population

31 residents of Athens, or 0.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Athens is comparable to the share in Ohio overall, where 0.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Athens ranks 161st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,265 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Athens's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 86.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Athens's population has decreased from 1.0% to 0.1%.

Athens is more Native American/Other than neighboring The Plains (0% Native American/Other), Millfield (0% Native American/Other), and New Marshfield (0% Native American/Other). Athens is less Native American/Other than neighboring Chauncey (4.6% Native American/Other), and Albany (0.3% Native American/Other).

Athens's Multiracial Population

1,687 residents of Athens, or 7.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Athens is slightly higher than in Ohio overall, where 4.3% of the population is Multiracial. Athens ranks 655th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,265 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Athens's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 84.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Athens's population has increased from 3.8% to 7.2%.

Athens is more Multiracial than neighboring The Plains (4.9% Multiracial), Chauncey (1.7% Multiracial), Millfield (0% Multiracial), New Marshfield (0% Multiracial), and Albany (0.6% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.