Commercial Real Estate Market in Athens, TN
Updated monthly: sale, lease, property records, location trend, and more… · Last update: August 31
86 active listings and 996 off-market properties in Athens, TN. Commercial property asks $37/SF to buy and $9.00/SF/Yr to lease.
Market Trends
Athens, TN spans 148.9 square miles in McMinn County, Tennessee. Figures below refresh monthly; last updated 31 August 2026.
Office
Office vacancy in Athens, TN runs 20.2% across the South region in 2025, up from 14.4% in 2019.
Vacancy Rate % in South region
Retail
Retail space in Athens, TN asks $78/SF to buy. Vacancy runs 5.4% across the South region in 2025, down from 7% in 2020.
Average Sale Price $/SF
Listings
Vacancy Rate % in South region
Industrial
Industrial vacancy in Athens, TN 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 space in Athens, TN asks $127/SF to buy. Vacancy runs 11.3% across the South region in 2025, up from 8.5% in 2022.
Average Sale Price $/SF
Listings
Vacancy Rate % in South region
Zoning & Land Use
Land Use Mix share of zoned land by category
- Residential 56.5%
- Commercial 24.3%
- Industrial 17.7%
Largest Zones share of zoned land by district
Medium Density Residential
Intensive Business
Heavy Industrial
Low Density Residential
High Density Residential
Athens, TN zones 8,748 acres across 12 districts. Commercial zoning covers 24.3% of zoned land, residential 56.5% and industrial 17.7%. The largest single district is Medium Density Residential at 28.3%. For commercial buyers the practical constraint is that only 42% of land carries a commercial or industrial designation.
Medium Density Residential (R-2)
R-1 and R-2 Zones, in addition to those provided for the R-1 and R-2 Zones in 4.03. In other zones, the requirements of Section 4.03 shall apply. C. The Board of Zoning Appeals shall approve only usable areas to be considered as open spaces or recreational areas within the complex. D. No use will be permitted which is not specifically permitted or permitted…
Market overview
Demographics & Economy
Athens, TN has 25,894 residents in 11,460 households. Density runs 174 people per square mile. Median household income here is $60,874 and median gross rent $815 a month.
25,894
Population
11,460
Households
2.3
Avg Household Size
42
Median Age
21%
College-Educated
86%
High-School Grad
148.9 sq mi
ZIP Area
174
Density / Sq Mi
$60,874
Median Household Income
$37,996
Median Earnings
$815
Median Rent
$196,800
Median Home Value
Tools
Nearby Markets
| Market | Average Sale Price, $/SF | Average Lease Price, $/SF/Yr |
|---|---|---|
| Niota | — | — |
| Englewood | — | — |
| Riceville | — | — |
| Etowah | — | — |
Commercial property in Athens, TN asks $37/SF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price per square foot for commercial property in Athens?
Commercial property in Athens, TN asks an average of $37 per square foot. The 3 most recent recorded sales traded at a median of $95/SF. Multifamily carries the highest asking price at $127/SF.
How much does it cost to lease commercial space in Athens?
Asking lease rates in Athens, TN average $9.00 per square foot per year.
What zoning applies to commercial property in Athens?
Athens, TN zones 8,748 acres across 12 districts, of which 24.3% is commercial and 17.7% industrial. The largest single district is Medium Density Residential at 28.3% of zoned land. R-1 and R-2 Zones, in addition to those provided for the R-1 and R-2 Zones in 4.03. In other zones, the requirements of Section 4.03 shall apply. C. The Board of Zoning Appeals shall approve only usable areas to be considered as open spaces or recreational areas within the complex. D. No use will be permitted which is not specifically permitted or permitted… Residential zoning covers 56.5% and open space 0%.
Where does Realmo's Athens market data come from?
Realmo compiles Athens, TN figures from 8 recent recorded sales, 81 active sale listings, 5 active lease listings, 996 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 81 active for-sale and 5 active for-lease listings in Athens, TN. 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: 8,748 zoned acres across 12 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
