Signals
Athens
Cullman
Growth
74 · Top 14%
vs68 · Top 22%
Climate
76 · Top 16%
vs78 · Top 7%
Physical resilience
50 · Bottom 43%
vs50 · Bottom 42%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 45%
vs98 · Top 36%
Access
68 · Bottom 34%
vs78 · Top 46%
Economic stability
38 · Bottom 32%
vs40 · Bottom 34%
Measured values
| Metric | Athens | Cullman | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 68,227 | 90,566 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,438 | $62,656 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,322 | $33,019 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 109/sq mi | 123/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $205,300 | $199,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $822 | $908 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 76.8% | 76.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 19.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 15.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 198 | 239 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 2.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 44.5% | 30.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 28°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 60.4" | 58.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 46 mi | 35 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 29.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.9 | 40.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Athens
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Cullman
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake, heat wave.
Full profiles: Athens, TN Micro Area · Cullman, AL Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology