Commercial Real Estate Market in Athens, GA
Updated monthly: sale, lease, property records, location trend, and more… · Last update: August 31
405 active listings and 3,363 off-market properties in Athens, GA. Commercial property asks $395/SF to buy and $17.10/SF/Yr to lease.
Market Trends
Athens, GA spans 130.4 square miles in Clarke County, Georgia. Figures below refresh monthly; last updated 31 August 2026.
Office
Office vacancy in Athens, GA runs 20.2% across the South region in 2025, up from 14.4% in 2019.
Vacancy Rate % in South region
Retail
Retail vacancy in Athens, GA runs 5.4% across the South region in 2025, down from 7% in 2020.
Vacancy Rate % in South region
Industrial
Industrial vacancy in Athens, GA runs 7.9% across the South region in 2025, up from 6% in 2019. Nearly 2.3x the 2022 low of 3.5%.
Vacancy Rate % in South region
Multifamily
Multifamily vacancy in Athens, GA runs 11.3% across the South region in 2025, up from 8.5% in 2022.
Vacancy Rate % in South region
Zoning & Land Use
Land Use Mix share of zoned land by category
- Residential 71.7%
- Mixed use 13%
- Industrial 9%
- Commercial 6.3%
- Civic 0%
- Planned_development 0%
Largest Zones share of zoned land by district
Agricultural Residential
Single Family Residential 25000 Square Foot Lot Average
Government
Single Family Residential 15000 Square Foot Lot Average
Employment Industrial
Athens, GA zones 69,482 acres across 22 districts. Commercial zoning covers 6.3% of zoned land, residential 71.7% and industrial 9%. The largest single district is Agricultural Residential at 37.1%. For commercial buyers the practical constraint is that only 15.3% of land carries a commercial or industrial designation.
Single Family Residential 25000 Square Foot Lot Average (RS-25)
District is to stabilize and protect the owner occupied housing characteristics of the district and to promote and encourage a suitable environment for family life
Market overview
Demographics & Economy
Athens, GA has 130,756 residents in 57,166 households. Density runs 1,002 people per square mile. Median household income here is $52,332 and median gross rent $1,158 a month.
130,756
Population
57,166
Households
2.3
Avg Household Size
29
Median Age
47%
College-Educated
90%
High-School Grad
130.4 sq mi
ZIP Area
1,002
Density / Sq Mi
$52,332
Median Household Income
$29,040
Median Earnings
$1,158
Median Rent
$281,937
Median Home Value
Tools
Lease vs Buy Breakeven
At $17.10/SF/Yr lease vs $395/SF buy → buying wins if held > 16.3 years.
At a 4.3% gross asking yield the payback reads short relative to leasing. Assumes 30% down at 6.5% fixed, 2% a year in taxes and upkeep, 3% appreciation, 5% opportunity cost, 2% closing plus 5% selling costs, and a 3% annual rent escalator.
Nearby Markets
| Market | Average Sale Price, $/SF | Average Lease Price, $/SF/Yr |
|---|---|---|
| Hull | — | $10.23 |
| Winterville | — | — |
| Colbert | — | — |
| Nicholson | — | — |
Commercial property in Athens, GA asks $395/SF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price per square foot for commercial property in Athens?
Commercial property in Athens, GA asks an average of $395 per square foot. The 6 most recent recorded sales traded at a median of $238/SF, so asking sits 66% above the achieved median.
How much does it cost to lease commercial space in Athens?
Asking lease rates in Athens, GA average $17.10 per square foot per year.
Is it cheaper to lease or buy commercial space in Athens?
Buying beats leasing in Athens, GA if the property is held longer than 16.3 years, comparing $17.10/SF/Yr asking rent with $395/SF asking price. The model assumes 30% down at 6.5% fixed, 2% of value per year in taxes and upkeep, 3% appreciation, 5% opportunity cost on the cash and a 3% annual rent escalator.
What zoning applies to commercial property in Athens?
Athens, GA zones 69,482 acres across 22 districts, of which 6.3% is commercial and 9% industrial. The largest single district is Agricultural Residential at 37.1% of zoned land. Residential zoning covers 71.7% and open space 0%.
Where does Realmo's Athens market data come from?
Realmo compiles Athens, GA figures from 6 recent recorded sales, 323 active sale listings, 82 active lease listings, 3,363 tracked off-market properties, the current Athens zoning release. Sale and lease figures refresh monthly; vacancy annually. Last updated 31 August 2026.
Methodology & data sources
- Asking prices and averages
- Computed from 323 active for-sale and 82 active for-lease listings in Athens, GA. These are ASKING figures from live listings, not closed-transaction prices, and a segment carried by a handful of listings reads as indicative rather than an average.
- Vacancy rates
- Published per-sector market series, taken at the metro level where one exists and otherwise at the Census-region level — a chart reading "in <region> region" is a regional number, not this city's.
- Zoning and land use
- The current municipal zoning release: 69,482 zoned acres across 22 districts. Shares are of zoned land, so parcels the release leaves unclassified are excluded from the mix.
- Refresh
- The monthly aggregates close at the end of the previous month, so 31 August 2026 — not today — is the honest last update.
- Known limitations
- office vacancy is reported at South region level, retail vacancy is reported at South region level and industrial vacancy is reported at South region level.
- Coverage
- Metrics below the 10-observation threshold fall back one geographic level. The geography used is named on each figure.
Compiled by the Realmo Data team · reviewed 31 August 2026 · report a data issue
