Independent Living Communities in Athens, Tennessee

CaringScore for Athens, TN

CaringScore was designed to help millions of Americans find the best places to retire, age in place, or receive eldercare. The CaringScore for independent living communities in Athens was based on more than 50 factors in three key categories: health, cost, and livability. By compiling and analyzing this data, Caring.com is able to rate the quality of life you or a loved one might expect should you choose independent living communities in Athens.

A CaringScore can range from 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and provides a quick way to compare cities, counties, and even specific zip codes. With a CaringScore of 5.1, Athens is on par with the national average for those seeking independent living communities.

The charts below highlight a few of the factors we used to calculate the CaringScore for Athens. Choose a category score to learn more.

Physicians Per Capita

Cost of Healthcare Index

Sunny Days Per Year

HealthScore for Athens, TN

HealthScore, a component of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Athens, rates a region on a scale of 1 (less healthful) to 10 (more healthful). It's specifically tailored to anyone looking for independent living communities. The HealthScore for Athens is based on the availability of healthcare resources, air and water quality, the overall health of the local population, and other key factors. With a HealthScore of 3.4, Athens rates below average for those seeking independent living communities.

Easy access to physicians -- especially geriatricians and other key specialists -- is important to older adults. At just 112.6 physicians per capita, Athens trails the national average by 48.9 percent. Athens trails the national average in geriatricians per capita by 100.0 percent, with 0, and scores 61.0 percent below the national average in specialists per capita, with 7.6. These medical specialists include cardiologists, oncologists, and orthopedists. The average life expectancy from birth in Athens is 75.2 years -- 3.5 percent lower than most of the country. The average life expectancy from birth in Athens is 75.2 years -- 3.5 percent lower than most of the country. and water quality -- another key measure of Athens's environmental health -- trails the national average by 27.3 percent.

Doctors Per Capita	Athens, TN	Nat'l Avg
Physicians	112.6	220.5
Geriatricians	0	1.3
Cardiologists	0	7.7
Oncologists	0	3.5
Orthopedists	7.6	7

Average Life Expectancy

CostScore for Athens, TN

CostScore, part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Athens, rates the cost of living for older adults on a scale of 1 (more expensive) to 10 (less expensive). It's specifically tailored to people looking for independent living communities. The CostScore for Athens is based on data such as the average monthly cost of independent living communities in the region, cost of living indices such as housing and healthcare, regional tax rates, and other key factors. With a CostScore of 8.1, the costs associated with independent living communities in Athens are generally less expensive than the national average.

Because of the broad range of housing, service, and healthcare options available at independent living communities, no average monthly cost data is available for Athens. The entry fee or purchase price for an independent living community can range from $50,000 to $500,000 or more, and typically requires an additional monthly service fee of $1,000 to $3,000 on average. The cost of living indices below provide the best proxy for comparing costs of independent living communities in Athens to the rest of the country. Overall, the cost of living for Athens indexes at 16.0 percent lower than the national average. Average healthcare costs are 8.0 percent cheaper than the national average, and the cost of housing is 44.0 percent less expensive than average.

Cost of Living	Athens, TN
Aggregate Index	84
Healthcare Index	92
Housing Index	56
Food Index	94
Utilities Index	91
Transportation Index	91

Cost of Healthcare Index

LivabilityScore for Athens, TN

LivabilityScore makes up part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Athens. On a scale of 1 (less livable) to 10 (more livable), it's a rating of the quality of life in a region, specifically tailored to those looking for independent living communities. The LivabilityScore for Athens is based on weather, crime rates, economic factors, average age of the population, and other key demographics. With a LivabilityScore of 3.6, Athens rates below average for independent living communities.

Weather is an important factor in choosing the best place for independent living communities. The sun shines an average of 211 days each year in Athens, 2.9 percent more sunny days than the rest of the U.S. sees. With an average temperature of 26°F in January, winters tend to be milder in Athens than in other parts of the country, and summers are often hotter than other places, averaging 88°F in July.

Local crime rates are another important indicator. The violent crime rate in Athens is 125.0 percent higher than the national average, and the property crime rate is 150.0 percent higher than average. At $34,506 per year, the population of Athens earns a lower than average median household income. Athens has an unemployment rate of 11.50 percent, roughly 26.4 percent higher than the national average. And about 17.20 percent of the population in Athens is of retirement age -- 65 or older -- which exceeds the national average by 30.7 percent.

Sunny Days Per Year

Avg Temperature (°F)

Property Crime Index

Amenities Per Capita	Athens	"Nat'l Avg"
Parks	0	136.1
Libraries	9.5	18.8
Places of Worship	250.9	220.5
Public Transit	0	110.4
Grocery Stores	249.8	97.7
Pharmacies	41.6	13.8

Percent of Population Over Age 65