Moving to Huntsville › Compare cities › Athens vs. Harvest
Athens vs. Harvest, Alabama: Which Fits You?
A side-by-side look at home prices, schools, commute times, parks, groceries, healthcare, taxes, utilities and what is being built, using MLS sales and official sources, with links to every deeper guide on our site.
The short answer: Homes cost more in Harvest: a median sale of $320,000 against $300,000 in Athens over the last 12 months, about 7% more. Without traffic, Gate 9 at Redstone is about 33 minutes from Athens and 20 from Harvest; Research Park is 31 and 17. Sales tax is 9% in Athens and 5.5% in Harvest.
How to use this page. These are facts to help you narrow your search, not a ranking of places or of the people who live there. Numbers change, city limits and school zones follow the address and not the mailing city, and every neighborhood is different. Check anything that matters to your decision with the official source linked below.
At a glance
| Athens | Harvest | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of place | City | Unincorporated community (county services) |
| Population | 25,406 (2020 Census); 34,209 (2025 estimate) | 5,893 (2020 Census) |
| Median sale price, last 12 months | $300,000 | $320,000 |
| Middle half of sales | $255,000 to $395,000 | $275,000 to $385,000 |
| Median price per sq ft | $162 | $158 |
| Median home size | 1,933 sq ft | 2,039 sq ft |
| Median lot | 0.29 acres | 0.27 acres |
| Sales on half an acre or more | 27% | 21% |
| Sales by builders (new construction) | 33% | 42% |
| Median days, listing to closing | 108 | 101 |
| Months of supply | 5.9 | 4.9 |
| Homes sold, last 12 months | 1,381 | 741 |
| Sales tax | 9% | 5.5% |
| Property tax rate | Check by address | 36.5 mills |
| Public schools | Athens City and Limestone County schools | Madison County Schools |
Home figures: Valley MLS sales of single-family homes, townhomes and condos with a Athens or Harvest city in the listing, closed in the 12 months before October 26, 2026.
Homes and prices
The live numbers are in each market report, which updates every day. Browse neighborhoods, subdivisions and new construction on each area page.
Athens
Median sale $300,000, $162 per sq ft, 1,933 sq ft typical size.
Harvest
Median sale $320,000, $158 per sq ft, 2,039 sq ft typical size.
Looking at new homes? Compare builders on our builder comparison and see current builder incentives.
Schools
The high schools below are the ones most homes sold in each place were zoned for, with their 2025 state report card grade and their rank among 79 high schools in our North Alabama school rankings. Want new listings in one zone? Use school zone alerts.
Athens
Athens City and Limestone County schools.
| High school | Share of sales | 2025 grade | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens High School | 50% | B (84) | Tied for #34 of 79 |
| East Limestone High School | 30% | A (90) | Tied for #4 of 79 |
| Clements High School | 9% | C (77) | Tied for #64 of 79 |
The state reports whole-number scores, so schools with the same score share a rank.
Harvest
| High school | Share of sales | 2025 grade | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkman High School | 62% | B (89) | Tied for #9 of 79 |
| Columbia High School | 27% | C (71) | Tied for #74 of 79 |
| East Limestone High School | 11% | A (90) | Tied for #4 of 79 |
The state reports whole-number scores, so schools with the same score share a rank.
The mailing-address trap. A "Athens" or "Harvest" mailing address does not tell you the city limits or the school district. Many addresses near city lines are zoned for a different system than the town name suggests. Always check the exact address with the district before you make an offer.
Considering other options? See private schools and homeschooling in Alabama.
Commute
Drive times are typical routes without traffic, from the center of each place. Rush hour adds time, especially at the Redstone gates. Try any starting point on our commute times tool.
Athens
| To | Drive |
|---|---|
| Redstone Gate 9 | 33 min (23 mi) |
| Redstone Gate 1 | 45 min (28 mi) |
| Cummings Research Park | 31 min (20 mi) |
| Downtown Huntsville | 38 min (25 mi) |
| Huntsville Hospital | 39 min (25 mi) |
| Huntsville airport | 30 min (24 mi) |
| Mazda Toyota plant | 23 min (14 mi) |
Harvest
| To | Drive |
|---|---|
| Redstone Gate 9 | 20 min (15 mi) |
| Redstone Gate 1 | 31 min (21 mi) |
| Cummings Research Park | 17 min (12 mi) |
| Downtown Huntsville | 24 min (15 mi) |
| Huntsville Hospital | 25 min (16 mi) |
| Huntsville airport | 27 min (21 mi) |
| Mazda Toyota plant | 33 min (18 mi) |
Working on the Arsenal? See homes near Redstone Arsenal by gate and the BAH calculator.
Parks and recreation
Athens
- Big Spring Memorial Park: Downtown city park with a duck pond. Three old tennis courts were converted to six pickleball courts and one tennis court.
- Athens Sportsplex: Multi-use park with baseball/softball, soccer, the municipal pool, disc golf, Kid's Dugout playground, a 1.2-mile walking track and an outdoor Fitness Court (opened late 2022)
- Athens Municipal Pool: City pool, typically open from late May, 12-5 p.m.
- Swan Creek Greenway: 2.3-mile National Recreation Trail, part asphalt and part crushed gravel
- Swan Creek Park: 18.35 acres with pavilions, practice field, track, playground, tennis/pickleball and greenway access. Planned upgrades include the accessible Make-A-Way Field and covered pickleball courts.
- Athens Recreation Center: City rec center with rentable rooms and a 1.53-mile walking track
Harvest
- Phillips Park: Youth baseball/softball park run by the nonprofit Monrovia Parks and Recreation Association.
- Blue Water Springs Park: Madison County park home to the Sparkman Athletic Association.
- Capshaw Mountain: Local landmark and the community's watershed/water supply.
Shopping and groceries
Shopping
Athens
- Downtown Athens / Courthouse Square: Historic square with boutiques and restaurants, U.G. White Hardware (90+ years) and the Limestone Drug soda fountain
- US 72 corridor: Main commercial strip: Walmart Supercenter, Publix, Aldi and Lowe's
- MidTown Centre: Redevelopment of the old Kmart site on US 31, anchored by a 48,387 sq ft Publix with about 11,200 sq ft of other retail
- French Mill Crossing (under development): Publix-anchored retail and restaurant center at US 72 and Mooresville Rd; $400K CDBG for turn-lane work, expected to create 100 jobs
Harvest
- Highway 53 corridor at Jeff Road: Main commercial node with Publix (5850 Highway 53).
- Nearby: Madison and Huntsville retail: Most major shopping is a short drive south (Madison Blvd, Hwy 72 W, Bridge Street).
Grocery stores
Athens
- Walmart Supercenter, 1011 US Hwy 72 E, Athens 35611
- Publix (US 72), 22031 US Highway 72, Athens 35613
- Publix (MidTown Centre), 165 US Hwy 31 N, Athens 35611
- Publix at French Mill Crossing (planned), US 72 at Mooresville Rd, east Athens
- ALDI, 115 US 72, Athens 35611
- Food City (57,000 sq ft, new), W Elm St at Lucas Ferry Rd, west Athens
- Farmers markets, Limestone County Farmers Market, Athens Saturday Market and Isom's Orchard. The city plans to revitalize the farmers market at Doug Gates Park.
- No Kroger, Target, Costco or Sam's Club in Athens, Not listed in the Kroger or Target Alabama store lists
Harvest
- Publix, 5850 Highway 53 (Hwy 53 & Jeff Rd)
- Food City (planned), Alabama 53 listed as a Phase II Huntsville-market site; no address or date announced
- Nearest Kroger/Walmart, No Kroger, Walmart or Aldi listed in Harvest; nearest are in north Huntsville/Madison (e.g., Walmart 7140 Wall Triana Hwy, Kroger 4579 Wall Triana Hwy)
Healthcare
Athens
We could not confirm this yet. Ask us.
Harvest
- Crestwood freestanding Emergency Department - Harvest: 24/7 ER opened July 9, 2024; 14,955 visits in first year; transfers to Crestwood Medical Center.
- Huntsville Hospital / Crestwood Medical Center: Nearest full hospitals, in Huntsville.
Taxes and utilities
Alabama property taxes are low by national standards, and the homestead exemption lowers them on the home you live in. Millage is the tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value; homes are assessed at 10% of appraised value. Confirm any address with the county revenue office. See Alabama real estate, explained and, for military buyers, VA loans and military.
Athens
- Electric: Athens Utilities (city-owned TVA distributor; also serves much of Limestone County)
- Water: Athens Utilities
- Sewer: Athens Utilities water/sewer department (Athens Water Services), per a 2017 News Courier report
- Natural gas: Athens Utilities
- Trash: City of Athens Sanitation Department (city-supplied cart; bulk, yard waste and seasonal leaf pickup)
- Internet: AT&T Fiber in parts of the city (about 81% coverage estimate), Spectrum cable (about 99%, with fiber in about 22%), WOW! cable (about 93%), plus 5G home internet from T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T Internet Air. Coverage figures are third-party estimates.
Harvest
- Water: Harvest-Monrovia Water (and Sewer) Authority
- Sewer: Harvest-Monrovia Water and Sewer Authority where available; many homes on septic (2012 WAFF report notes septic customers)
- Trash: Madison County Waste Control curbside for residents outside Huntsville city limits: $13.50/month weekly; free curbside recycling via Recycling Alliance of North Alabama (RANA).
- Internet: AT&T Fiber, Mediacom cable (~99%), WOW cable (~34%), Mediacom fiber (~13%), plus 5G home internet and Starlink.
Growth and recent news
What has been announced, approved or built lately, newest first.
Athens
- Sep 2026 Athens chosen for Appalachian Regional Commission READY Local Governments program. Finishing the program makes the city eligible to apply for $50,000 in no-match economic development funding.
- Jul 2026 Athens Utilities electric customer charge increase approved. $2 per month increase to the residential/small commercial customer charge from Nov 1, 2026 (pending TVA approval), and another $2 on Oct 1, 2027. Billing system change in Oct 2026.
- May 2026 $266,660 ARC grant for road work at the new Food City. Food City is investing $19.5M in a 57,000 sq ft store with 100 jobs at W Elm St and Lucas Ferry Rd. The city adds $322,207.
- Feb 2026 Ground broken on The Grove at South Jefferson. $40M, 120-unit workforce/affordable apartment community (72 two-bedroom, 48 three-bedroom) by The Hall Group with AHFA support
- Dec 2025 Limestone County driver license office moves. New, larger office at 503 S. Jefferson St, Suite A
- Oct 2025 The Shoppes at Piney Creek breaks ground. East Athens retail center, completion targeted for Q1 2026
Harvest
- Aug 2026 Jeff Road additional lanes moving toward bid. South of Capshaw Rd to north of Douglas Rd; $20.8M; county bid fall 2026, construction FY2027.
- Jul 2026 Sparkman Intermediate School opens. Madison County Schools' first new school in more than a decade; grades 4-6 on McKee Rd in Harvest; relieves Harvest Elementary, Madison Crossroads Elementary and Sparkman Middle; ~$43.8M construction contract.
- Jun 2026 ALDOT to widen SR-53 in Harvest. About 1 mile widened to five lanes from Taurus Dr (just north of Jeff Rd) to Harvest Rd; $5.3M; Rogers Group; work starting June 15, 2026, completion late 2027.
- Sep 2025 Road fixes coming to northwest Madison County. Jeff Rd widening design 80%; roundabout at McKee/Wall Triana under construction; multiple Old Railroad Bed, Nick Davis and Pettus intersection projects (ARPA-funded, fall 2026 deadline).
- Jul 2025 Crestwood Harvest ER marks one year. Opened July 9, 2024; nearly 15,000 visits in first year.
- Oct 2024 Madison County Schools breaks ground on Sparkman Intermediate. $43.77M construction plus $1.93M site grading on McKee Rd.
Library and community
Athens
- Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention: Annual fiddlers convention at Athens State University; the source says it roughly doubles the town's population
- Athens Storytelling Festival: Annual festival
- Athens Grease Festival: Fried-food festival
- Cars and Bikes on the Square: Monthly in warm months on the courthouse square
Harvest
- Monrovia Public Library (HMCPL branch): Library branch in the Monrovia Community Center on Allen Drake Dr, serving the Harvest/Monrovia area.
- Sparkman High School: One of the larger high schools in North Alabama (1,777 students in grades 10-12 in 2021); community anchor.
- Capshaw Mountain: Watershed and site of radio communication towers.
Which fits you?
Look at Athens if
- you want a lower price point (median $300,000)
- a shorter drive to Mazda Toyota matters to you
- you want more homes to choose from and more room to negotiate
Look at Harvest if
- a shorter drive to Redstone Arsenal (Gate 9), Research Park and downtown Huntsville matters to you
- lower sales tax outside city limits matters to you
Still deciding? Compare any two places, see ZIP codes side by side, or read our moving to Huntsville guide.
We are a local family brokerage and own property in South Huntsville, Madison, Harvest and downtown. We can show you both in a day. Buyers in Alabama can tour before signing anything. Call or text (256) 808-6861.
Questions
Is Athens or Harvest more expensive?
Over the last 12 months the median sale was $300,000 in Athens and $320,000 in Harvest, based on Valley MLS sales through October 26, 2026. Prices vary a lot by neighborhood, so compare the specific areas you like.
Which schools serve Athens and Harvest?
Athens is served mainly by Athens City and Limestone County schools, and Harvest mainly by Madison County Schools. Mailing addresses do not decide school zones, so confirm any address with the school district.
How long is the drive to Redstone Arsenal from Athens and Harvest?
Without traffic, Gate 9 is about 33 minutes from Athens and 20 minutes from Harvest. Rush hour adds time, especially at the gates and on I-565 and the Parkway.
What is the sales tax in Athens and Harvest?
About 9% in Athens and 5.5% in Harvest. Rates depend on whether an address is inside city limits, so check a specific address with the Alabama Department of Revenue.
Sources: Valley MLS sales data (pulled October 26, 2026); Alabama State Department of Education 2025 report card; drive times computed with OpenStreetMap routing; U.S. Census Bureau; Alabama Department of Revenue millage tables; and the city, county, utility, store and news pages below. Information is believed reliable but not guaranteed, and it changes. Wyze Realty advises buyers but does not verify taxes, utilities or school zones for a specific property; confirm them with the official source. Updated October 2026.
All source links
256today.com/from-roundabouts-to-widenings-big-road-fixes-coming-to-northwest-madison-coun
adeca.alabama.gov/2026/05/27/gov-ivey-announces-grant-to-support-development-bringing-100-
aldotnews.com/2026/06/08/aldot-to-widen-sr-53-in-harvest/
athensalabama.us/148/Departments
athensalabama.us/m/faq?cat=42
athensalabama.us/m/faq?cat=46
broadbandmap.com/internet-providers/athens-al
broadbandmap.com/internet-providers/harvest-al
businessalabama.com/spotlight-on-limestone-morgan-counties-health-care/
census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/athenscityalabama/PST045223
crestwoodmedcenter.com/one-year-of-emergency-care-in-harvest/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens,_Alabama
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest,_Alabama
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monrovia,_Alabama
enewscourier.com/2025/03/22/athens-makes-a-splash-with-groundbreaking-of-sunrise-park/
enewscourier.com/2025/05/31/limestone-county-schools-breaks-ground-on-12-million-expansion
enewscourier.com/2025/10/08/developer-breaks-ground-on-the-shoppes-at-piney-creek-in-east-
enewscourier.com/?p=186264
enewscourier.com/?p=308183
enewscourier.com/?p=309391
huntsvillebusinessjournal.com/news/2023/07/17/food-city-breaks-ground-in-hampton-cove-for-
huntsvillebusinessjournal.com/news/2026/02/25/state-local-leaders-break-ground-on-affordab
storelocators.com/store-lists/kroger/alabama
storelocators.com/store-lists/walmart/alabama
stores.aldi.us/al/athens/115-us-72
alabama.travel/places-to-go/athens-sportsplex
alea.gov/news/athens-driver-license-office-relocating-larger-facility-december-2025
aol.com/news/second-publix-shopping-center-opening-124100609.html
athensalabama.us/m/newsflash
att.com/local/fiber/alabama/athens
avalara.com/us/en/taxrates/state-rates/alabama/cities/athens.html
avalara.com/us/en/taxrates/state-rates/alabama/cities/harvest.html
huntsvillempo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Huntsville-MPO-Project-Update-August-26-2026.
madeinalabama.com/2025/06/firms-launch-33-million-project-to-build-aviation-facility-at-pr
madisoncountyal.gov/departments/madison-county-waste-control-recycling
madisoncountyal.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation-department
madisoncountyal.gov/departments/tax-collector/tax-levy-information
mcssk12.org/post-details/~board/whats-new-at-mcss/post/mcss-breaks-ground-on-sparkman-inte
revenue.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Athens_20230919.pdf
revenue.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/taxrates_current.csv