Downtown

"Epitome of Urban Living in a College Town"
Downtown Athens is the heart of the city, pulsating with energy and creativity. Known for its vibrant arts scene, eclectic shops, and diverse dining options, this area is a magnet for students, young professionals, and anyone looking to immerse themselves in the city's lively atmosphere. It is home to the University of Georgia (UGA) and serves as the cultural and commercial hub of Athens. Living in Downtown Athens means being at the center of it all. The area is bustling with activity, especially during the academic year, thanks to its proximity to UGA. Residents enjoy a dynamic urban lifestyle, with easy access to cultural events, nightlife, and a wide array of amenities. The housing options are diverse, ranging from modern apartments and condos to charming historic buildings. This variety makes downtown an appealing choice for a wide range of residents.

Downtown Athens is a food lover's paradise & is highly walkable, with most amenities within easy reach. Residents can stroll to a variety of shops, cafes, bars, and entertainment venues. The area is also well-served by public transportation, including bus routes that connect to other parts of the city and UGA campus. Additionally, the presence of bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly streets makes it easy to get around without a car. Downtown Athens is the epitome of urban living in a college town, offering a vibrant and dynamic lifestyle. It stands out as a premier destination for those looking to experience the best of what the city has to offer.
What Downtown Residents
Think About Their Apartments
overall
7.5
value
7.5
amenities
7.0
social
7.0
management
8.0
Median rents in Downtown
Studio
$
1,700
1 Bedroom
$
2,000
2 Bedroom
$
2,200

Living in
Downtown

Vibrant
Dynamic
Urban
Bustling
Nightlife
Downtown — 8.7/10 Rating (based on 34 neighborhood reviews)
Everything is walking distance to me, which is very nice. Larger grocery stores like Publix/Kroger are less than 10 minutes away. There are plenty of restaurant options within walking distance as well as a CVS and mini Target for anything I need in-between larger shopping trips or might forget on the way to class. All of the bars and nightlife are also walkable.
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Reviewed by
10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
Great location. Easy access to the north side of campus. 8-10 minute walk to UGA business school. Downtown. Private entrances- locked, safe, and convenient.
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Reviewed by
9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
Downtown right by campus and dt restaurants and bars. Fantastic location in the heart of the city.
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Reviewed by
9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
Don't interact with the neighborhood.
It's really close to Creature and close enough to downtown for it to all be walkable.

Prince Market is a decent grocery too. Probably not for a weekly haul, but still solid.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
One Hundred Prince
Not technically a neighborhood, but downtown is exactly what you get. Noise, some homeless but great centrality and ease getting anything you need at a moment by walking.
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Reviewed by
9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
321 E Clayton St
Living downtown, right in the thick of it, but just away from the most popular weekend spots so that street noise is not a nuisance.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
I like living downtown because it is close to the law school and my social life. It is more expensive and can be dangerous at night.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Standard at Athens
It’s down town: the night life is great and it is not somewhere to walk alone at 3 am
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Reviewed by
10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
Middle of downtown, close to all bars/restaurants.

I have had no real issues with the area besides daily verbal pestering from panhandlers, but I am a man, so my perspective may be less valuable on this topic.
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Reviewed by
10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
Being downtown is very convenient in terms of shopping, dining, and nightlife. There is lots to do and you can save money by walking everywhere instead of paying for a rideshare service. The downside is that recently the safety has been declining with an increase in the homeless population, specifically those who are mentally ill or using drugs who have become more confrontational.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
755 Broad Apartments
It's lit. I saw one person in the apartment groupme say their car got broken into.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
421 West
Good location
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
240 W Clayton St
Downtown and near campus
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
Downtown
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
755 Broad Apartments
Lots of bars and restaurants, live music and campus is right there. Extremely convenient.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
I enjoy the distance to campus.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Farmer’s Exchange
quiet
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
One Hundred Prince
I like the noise and bustle of downtown. I especially like my exact location: I am just close enough to the scene to watch and feel the energy but not close enough where it is loud. It is only loud when Georgia Theatre has a rooftop show. It is also very close to the school and convenient to almost all of my immediate needs and social spots.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
It is downtown athens...good and bad. The good is that you never have to walk far to have access to everything including CVS and target. Bad part of that is that Athens is not the safest place and downtown is definitely no exception. There is supposedly a security guard for the building...might just be an ineffective one.
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Reviewed by
9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
This neighborhood is safer than other places I have lived further from campus. We haven’t had any issues aside from walking home at night from downtown (which is rough wherever you live).
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
One Hundred Prince
Downtown is great! So many restaurants and stores nearby, plus the law school is walking distance
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Reviewed by
10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
Downtown. Overall good. Sometimes homeless people wandering around but management is good about calling the police and getting them out.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
Convenience of downtown location but just outside the loud part
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Reviewed by
10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
755 Broad Apartments
A pretty typical downtown experience, obviously there is noise outside on the weekends, but it’s never been an issue for me. It’s directly across the street from an entrance to the firefly trail and very close to campus.
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Reviewed by
10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
755 Broad Apartments
The building is basically downtown. It is pretty safe, but there can be sketchy people at night (as with most places downtown).
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Eclipse on Broad
Great college town
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Lark Athens
Starting to become a more dangerous city with crime and homeless increasing rapidly
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
Overall Athens is great, but there is some crime and you don’t want to be walking alone at night
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
Safe neighborhood.
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Reviewed by
10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
One Hundred Prince
Near downtown but far enough to be quiet
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Reviewed by
10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
One Hundred Prince
A little outside of downtown so it isn't too noisy as long as you aren't up against the street
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Lark Athens
Downtown
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Reviewed by
10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights
It's been great overall.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Lark Athens
love downtown athens
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Reviewed by
9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Georgia Heights


Getting to Know
Downtown

Neighborhood Boundaries

Best Apartments
in Downtown

One Hundred Prince
1 Bed $1,385

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Arches on Mitchell

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321 E Clayton St

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The Mark Athens

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Newberry Apartments

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240 W Clayton St

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Nearby Neighborhoods

Neighborhood Guide
East Athens
Suburban Comfort and Urban Convenience
Neighborhood Guide
Normaltown
Lively and Appealing Neighborhood Perfect for those who Want a Bit of Both Worlds
Neighborhood Guide
Five Points
Sought-After Neighborhood that Offers a Unique Living Experience