Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area's all-transactions index changed +1.0% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +1.9% for Georgia and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 317th of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +1.0%
- 5-year change
- +54.8%
- Since Q1 1995
- +327%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 317th
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Athens-Clarke County, GA vs Georgia and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Athens-Clarke County, GA: 427.2
- Georgia: 375.3
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | GA | U.S. | Gap vs GA | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +1.0% | +1.9% | +3.0% | −0.9 pts | −2.0 pts |
| 3 years | +16.0% | +10.9% | +12.9% | +5.1 pts | +3.2 pts |
| 5 years | +54.8% | +47.6% | +41.3% | +7.2 pts | +13.6 pts |
| 10 years | +134% | +112% | +93.3% | +22.1 pts | +41.0 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +327% | +275% | +292% | +51.9 pts | +35.6 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Athens-Clarke County, GA area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 306 · Athens-Clarke County, GA area | GA | +0.9% | +53.6% | +325% | 50% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Athens-Clarke County, GA area
Athens-Clarke County, GA area's index peaked in Q1 2008, fell 19.1% to its low in Q4 2012, and regained its peak in Q1 2017, about 9 years after the top. Today it sits +126% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q1 2008 | Q4 2012 | -19.1% | Q1 2017 (9 yrs) | +126% |
| GA | Q1 2008 | Q2 2012 | -24.4% | Q2 2017 (9.2 yrs) | +103% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Athens-Clarke County, GA area's index has changed +93.0% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | GA after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | -2.8% | -1.9% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | +5.7% | +1.0% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | +24.8% | +19.0% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +68.5% | +52.6% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +93.0% | +69.5% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Athens-Clarke County, GA area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +321% | $1,261,666 |
| Q2 2000 | +226% | $977,276 |
| Q2 2005 | +147% | $742,397 |
| Q2 2010 | +146% | $737,272 |
| Q2 2015 | +150% | $748,948 |
| Q2 2020 | +77.5% | $532,580 |
| Q2 2021 | +54.8% | $464,533 |
| Q2 2023 | +16.0% | $348,110 |
| Q2 2025 | +1.0% | $303,036 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Athens-Clarke County, GA area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area shows changes of +1.0% over one year, +54.8% over five years, and +134% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +327% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Athens-Clarke County, GA area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved −2.0 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is +13.6 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.