MonitorBankRates
☰
New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Athens, LA Housing Affordability Index

Athens, Louisiana has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 253.4 (Highly Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 14th most affordable of 331 scored Louisiana cities, compared with 125.1 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $84,000 home with 20% down, the Louisiana average 30-year fixed rate of 7.19% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $456, or 35% of the city’s $15,673 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Athens is updated every night from live Louisiana mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Athens MBR-HAI 253.4 Highly Affordable
Rank in Louisiana 14 of 331 1 = most affordable
Louisiana 125.1 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.19% Louisiana lenders
Median home value $84,000 U.S. Census Bureau

Athens is 128.3 points above the Louisiana score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Louisiana index

View Athens Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Athens

$456/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.19%
$19,500
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$15,673
Median Household Income
Louisiana: $60,756
5.4x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Louisiana: 3.6x
$483/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$1,098/yr
Median Property Tax
Louisiana figure
45.0%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
1.5%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Athens, Louisiana. The rate is the Louisiana average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Athens Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Athens, Louisiana score: 253.4 (Highly Affordable), ranked 14 of 331 Louisiana cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/louisiana/athens”