Best Areas to Live in Athens

Athens's most frequently cited residential draws cluster around the walkable uptown/OU-campus core and the surrounding, genuinely hilly Appalachian-Ohio countryside.

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The walkable uptown/OU-campus core

Neighborhoods near Ohio University's campus and uptown Court Street offer genuine walkability and proximity to campus life, popular with faculty, staff, and students.

The surrounding, hilly Appalachian-Ohio countryside

Outside the compact core, Athens County's genuinely hilly, forested terrain offers a real, different rural-living character for those prioritizing space and scenery over walkability.

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Key takeaways

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-25. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.