Athens, TN · standard
ZIP Code 37303
McMinn County, Tennessee - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 25,461
- 66/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $62,078
- Median income Near-median income area
- $232,100
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 21.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Athens pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 33rd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 47%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 66
- people per sq mi
- 71%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 37303 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 37303 (Athens, TN) rose +10.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 263.5 in 2023 to 289.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 37303 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Athens, McMinn County, Tennessee, with 25,461 residents across 386.4 square miles, a density of 66 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 37303 reports a modest median household income of $62,078 (7% below the average Tennessee ZIP), while per-capita income is $33,280. The poverty rate is 13.7%, with unemployment at 5.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $232,100 (6% below the average Tennessee ZIP) and median rent is $849; 70.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 21.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.7, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 5 more in McMinn County, so 37303 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 37303
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Athens, TN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 37303.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
124 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
85 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
78 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
73 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
59 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 37303, Athens, TN · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
25,461
Population
386.4
Area (sq mi)
66
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 37303?
42.7
Median Age
50.1%
Male
49.9%
Female
2.7%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$62,078
Median Household Income
-7% vs state ZIP avg
$33,280
Per Capita Income
13.7%
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Unemployment Rate
22.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 37303 ranks among Tennessee ZIPs
Athens, TN household income vs. every Tennessee ZIP code
Median household income among 593 reporting Tennessee ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$62,078 Top 49% higher than 51% of 593 Tennessee ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Tennessee ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
11,618housing units
11,618
Total Housing Units
10,228
Occupied Units
1,390
Vacant Units
2.42
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$232,100
Median Home Value
-6% vs state ZIP avg
$849
Median Rent
1978
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+10.0%
YoY Change (2024)
290
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+190%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 37303 have increased 10.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +190% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.5% | 171 |
| 2021 | +13.5% | 194 |
| 2022 | +18.8% | 231 |
| 2023 | +14.1% | 264 |
| 2024 | +10.0% | 290 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 646 business establishments in ZIP 37303, employing approximately 12,890 people with a combined annual payroll of $556,458,000.
646
Businesses
12,890
Employees
$556.5M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 124 | 19.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 85 | 13.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 78 | 12.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 73 | 11.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 59 | 9.1% |
| Manufacturing | 42 | 6.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 38 | 5.9% |
| Construction | 30 | 4.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 29 | 4.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 27 | 4.2% |
| Information | 15 | 2.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 14 | 2.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 12 | 1.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 10 | 1.6% |
| Educational services | 4 | 0.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 0.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 37303 vs 37370 →
ZIP 37303 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 37303
Athens (37303)
25,461 residents
- 37331 7,656
Etowah (37331)
7,656 residents
- 37370 4,652
Riceville (37370)
4,652 residents
- 37826 4,361
Niota (37826)
4,361 residents
- 37309 2,138
Calhoun (37309)
2,138 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 37303 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 37303 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 37309
Calhoun (37309)
$63,699 median income
- 37826
Niota (37826)
$63,431 median income
- 37303
Athens (37303)
$62,078 median income
- 37370
Riceville (37370)
$61,125 median income
- 37331
Etowah (37331)
$55,662 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 37303 ranks #3 of 5 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 37303, both outside TN so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (25,461 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in McMinn County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 37303 in?
ZIP code 37303 (Athens) is located in McMinn County, Tennessee. McMinn County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/mcminn-tn.
What is the population of ZIP code 37303?
ZIP code 37303 in Athens, TN has a population of 25,461 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 37303?
The median household income in ZIP 37303 is $62,078, which is 19% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 37303?
The median home value in ZIP 37303 is $232,100, which is 17% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 37303?
The largest racial group in ZIP 37303 is White at 85.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 37303?
ZIP code 37303 has 646 business establishments employing approximately 12,890 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 37303?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 37303 are: Retail trade (124), Health care and social assistance (85), Other services (except public administration) (78). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 37303?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 37303 increased by 10.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 190%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 37303?
In ZIP code 37303, 60.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 37303?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 37303 is 22.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 37303?
In ZIP code 37303, approximately 70.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 37303?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 37303 is 13.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 37303's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 37303 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Athens, TN ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.