Athens, TX vs Texarkana, TX

Texarkana is moderately more affordable than Athens, with a 12.8% lower cost of living index. Athens scores 82 compared to 73 for Texarkana, 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 $1,069/month compared to $990/month in Texarkana — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Texarkana is more affordable at $159,700 median vs $205,700.

Median household income in Athens is $70,601 compared to $49,240 in Texarkana (+43.4%). 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 24.1% in Texarkana.