Athens, TN vs Bolivar, TN

Bolivar is moderately more affordable than Athens, with a 6.5% lower cost of living index. Athens scores 73 compared to 68 for Bolivar, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Athens can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Athens is $807/month compared to $827/month in Bolivar — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Athens has cheaper rent, Bolivar actually has lower median home values ($136,000 vs $197,300).

Median household income in Athens is $53,151 compared to $38,575 in Bolivar (+37.8%). While Athens is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Athens spend roughly 18.2% of their income on rent, less than the 25.7% in Bolivar.