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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, TN Housing Affordability Index

Athens, Tennessee has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 117.8 (More Affordable Than Average) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 269th most affordable of 380 scored Tennessee cities, compared with 103.7 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $225,000 home with 20% down, the Tennessee average 30-year fixed rate of 7.18% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,220, or 27% of the city’s $53,929 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Athens is updated every night from live Tennessee 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 117.8 More Affordable Than Average
Rank in Tennessee 269 of 380 1 = most affordable
Tennessee 103.7 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.18% Tennessee lenders
Median home value $225,000 U.S. Census Bureau

Athens is 14.1 points above the Tennessee score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Tennessee index

View Athens Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Athens

$1,220/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.18%
$52,300
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$53,929
Median Household Income
Tennessee: $69,595
4.2x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Tennessee: 4.1x
$921/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$1,071/yr
Median Property Tax
0.48% of median value
17.2%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
46.0%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Athens, Tennessee. The rate is the Tennessee 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, Tennessee score: 117.8 (More Affordable Than Average), ranked 269 of 380 Tennessee cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/tennessee/athens”