Signals
Athens
Saks
Opportunity
42 · Bottom 21%
vs30 · Bottom 6%
Climate
76 · Top 26%
vs78 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
52 · Bottom 44%
vs44 · Bottom 34%
Housing affordability
85 · Top 43%
vs92 · Top 28%
Access
70 · Bottom 12%
vs70 · Bottom 12%
Economic stability
38 · Bottom 15%
vs33 · Bottom 10%
Measured values
| Metric | Athens | Saks | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,471 | 10,681 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $53,929 | $49,753 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,458 | $29,230 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 930/sq mi | 877/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $225,000 | $116,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $846 | $898 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.9% | 72.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.6% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 17.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.0% | 20.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 88°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 28°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 60.4" | 52.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 42 mi | 53 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 24.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.0 | 40.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 6 | 2024-25 school 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.
Saks
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Full profiles: Athens, TN · Saks, AL · How this is calculated: methodology