Edward Erickson Farmstead · National Register of Historic Places
Athens Township’s story
143 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 maps from 1955 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1883Athens Township is settled
Athens TownshipMN
A town of 2,175, settled in 1883.
6 bordering townsMap →
Edward Erickson Farmstead · Photo: Elkman · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
2,175
2025 Census estimate · +3.4% since 2020
Median home value
$324K
Census ACS
Household income
$88K
median
Median age
40.8
years
Jobs based here
257
A commuter town
Is Athens Township a good place to live?
Athens Township’s best subject grade is an A− for incomes; its weakest is a C− for walkability. Among 274 Minnesota towns, just 5 have a lower share of working residents who work in town than Athens Township. Edward Erickson Farmstead is on the National Register of Historic Places. Athens Township has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Athens Township for work
Where Athens Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
257jobs based in Athens Township
1%of working residents work in town
24 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Athens Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Athens Township is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 4 of 20; 1.6% of households have no car; 1.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →Jobs & income$88K median household incomeA−Open →HealthCambridge Medical Center 9.5 miles awayB+Open →Cost of livingTypical home $324K, 3.2 years of the Minneapolis metro’s $100K median household incomeBOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →SchoolsBeat 52% of Minnesota districts on tests and graduationB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 1% conserved landDOpen →History1 place on the National RegisterB−Open →Civic life2.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Athens Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Athens Township, and how to reach them.
PowerConnexus Energy14.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterIsanti Estates water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Athens Township’s trash rules yet
SchoolsCambridge-Isanti Public School DistrictSt. Francis Area Schools2 districts serve Athens Township; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereIsanti County Auditor-Treasurer's OfficeIsanti County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Apr 2022
ZIP code5504055040 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Athens Township.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
With 0.2 jobs for every working resident, most of Athens Township’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Athens Township for work: only 1% work in town. At 31 minutes, Athens Township’s average trip to work is where Minnesota’s towns sit at 23 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Jobs based in Athens Township grew to 257 in 2023, 126 more than in 2013.
1%work in town
| Athens Township | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 31 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 7% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Athens Township1%
Cambridge8%
Minneapolis6%
Blaine4%
St. Paul4%
24 mi
median commute distance
257
jobs based in Athens Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 17% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
On CDC estimates, Athens Township is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns
Athens Township beats the Minnesota average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 72% of adults had a checkup this year in Athens Township, against 75% in Minnesota’s towns and 79% across U.S. towns. 20% of adults binge drink in Athens Township.
68%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Athens Township | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 72% | 75% | 79% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 16% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 31% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
0 better28 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Athens Township | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 14.2% | 8.9% |
| More smokers | 16.7% | 13.1% |
| Fewer adults seeing a dentist | 63.9% | 67.5% |
Cambridge Medical Center
9.5 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Athens Township has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Athens Township has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Athens Township’s July high is 82°F.
56″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter8–25°
Spring34–55°
Summer58–80°
Fall38–56°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 2
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Moderate risk in Athens Township, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 56% of U.S. communities.
56risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsD
1.1% of Athens Township is conserved land
0.8 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The biggest park or preserve is Athens Wildlife Management Area, at 188 acres.
1.1%conserved
1.1%
conserved · 225 of 19,967 acres
0.8 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Athens Wildlife Management Area | — | 188 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Athens Township
18pages on Athens Township
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Athens Township; the nearest are
Anoka Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Anoka17.4 mi$6,267 in-state tuitionUniversity of Minnesota-Twin CitiesUniversity or college · Public · Minneapolis31.6 mi$17,214 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Athens Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
About Athens Township
Unincorporated community in Minnesota, United States
Athens is an unincorporated community in Athens Township, Isanti County, Minnesota, United States. Main routes include Isanti CR 9 (269th Avenue NE), Isanti CR 56 (261st Avenue NE), and MN 65. Nearby places include Isanti, East Bethel, Stacy, and Athens Wildlife Management Area. The Cedar Creek Ecosystem Reserve, operated by the University of Minnesota, is also nearby.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Elevation
- 925 ft
Athens Township’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Athens Township.
Stanford TownshipSt. FrancisIsantiOxford TownshipEast BethelIsanti TownshipAthens Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Township | — | — | B | — | B− | B+ |
| Stanford Township | — | — | C | — | B | B+ |
| St. Francis | #110 | A− | B+ | B+ | B | B |
| Isanti | #70 | A | B+ | A− | B− | B+ |
| Oxford Township | — | — | B | — | B− | B+ |
| East Bethel | #160 | B+ | B− | — | B | A− |
| Isanti Township | — | — | B | — | B− | B+ |
Athens Township, Stanford Township, Oxford Township and Isanti Township have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Athens Township, Stanford Township, Oxford Township, East Bethel and Isanti Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Athens Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Athens Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Athens Township, MN expensive?
Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.