Is Athens The New Madison?

So, the question on everyone's mind is this: Is Athens, Alabama, really the "new Madison"? I see a lot of parallels between Athens today and what Madison was like 15 years ago. My guess is that, shy of a massive economic shock, Athens is headed in that direction. Madison was once a commuter town for the Arsenal and Huntsville, characterized by pockets of subdivisions and highly rated schools. Athens has that same DNA. It is a very easy 30 to 35-minute commute to the Arsenal and Research Park. Like Madison, Athens also has a highly rated city school district, with a lot of A and A+ ranked schools. The thing is, Athens offers significantly lower home prices, especially for new construction, than buying in downtown Madison. You still get access to Madison's amenities, plus its own unique appeal, which includes a gorgeous, "Hallmark moment" downtown square with one-off restaurants and an old southern town culture. I see Athens as Madison 2.0. It was Alabama's fastest-growing city last year and the second-fastest this year, and that growth is driving major changes, including new restaurants and retail coming in. If you value appreciation over isolation, and you want to catch the wave of growth before it crests, Athens needs to be on your radar. THINGS TO CONSIDER: Athens is relatively flat farmland, and there is a fair amount of flood zone. It's a broader swath of America economically—it's not as tiered toward the highly educated as Madison. The immediate interstate exit is misleading; you need to look deeper to see the real Athens. CONNECT WITH MEGAN: Phone: (256) 334-7732 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cameronwalkerrealty.com/megan-hines-megan/ CONNECT WITH CAMERON: Phone: (256) 280-4356 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cameronwalkerrealty.com DISCLAIMER: Cameron Walker is the broker and owner of Cameron Walker Realty, a licensed real estate brokerage in the state of Alabama.