Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 45 min6:03 am – 8:48 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 35 min7:35 am – 5:09 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People2,913 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 21.5719 householdsMedian household income $80,625Median home value $213,800Median rent $975 a month88% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,255 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting2.9% unemployment rate43% of adults are in the labour force, 934 employedMain industries: education and health care 42%, manufacturing 18%, hospitality, food and recreation 12%Average commute 30 minutes66% drive alone, 15% car-pool, 10% walk or cycle, 7% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages38% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher98% finished high school, 10% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 95%, Spanish 2%, French or Haitian Creole 1%, other Asian or Pacific languages 1%Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 82°F, lows 60°FColdest month January: highs 43°F, lows 22°F41 in of rain a year, on about 86 dayswettest month May24 in of snow a year, on about 16 days3 days above 90°F, 125 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Athens station, 4 mi away; rain from Princeton
Parks and public landsPipestem Resort State Parkstate park · 2.8 mi · 4,211 acresJefferson National Forestnational forest · 3.6 mi · 711,977 acresCamp Creek State Parkstate park · 5.3 mi · 559 acresBluestone Recreation Arearecreation area · 5.9 mi · 22,147 acresBluestone Lake Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 6.7 mi · 17,920 acresBluestone Lake State Parkstate park · 10.3 mi · 891 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes6 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.6 on 30 May 197435 mi away, near Blacksburg, VirginiaMost recent: magnitude 3.2 on 13 Sep 201718 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowMercer County, WV, compared with all US countiesHighest-rated hazardsLandslide Relatively ModerateCold wave Relatively ModerateSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality94% of days had good air in 2025337 of 357 days measured20 moderate daysMedian index 37, worst day 80main pollutant: ozoneSource: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Giles County, VA, 21 mi away
Internet at home90% of households have a broadband subscription81% have cable, fibre or DSL9% rely on a mobile data plan alone10% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterTown of Athensserves 5,633 people from surface waterNo health-based violations since 20211 monitoring or reporting violation since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation2,250 ft686 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalSouthern Hills Rehabilitation Hospital9.1 miPost officeLerona Post Office3.4 miTown hallAthens Town Hall4.1 miPoliceAthens Police Department4.1 miFire stationBluestone Valley Volunteer Fire Department4.3 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportRaleigh County Memorial Airport BKW22 miMajor airportPiedmont Triad International Airport GSO113 miInterstateI-771.9 miUS highwayUS 193.6 miAmtrakHinton, WV HIN16 miCoachBluefield Bus StopGreyhound19 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 24712 ZIP area.
