CallataGuidesAthens, OH business phone guide
Population, businesses by sector and industry, area codes and local numbers for the Athens, OH micropolitan area.
- Population
- 63,2182024 est.
- Establishments
- 1,030CBP 2023
- Counties
- 1
- Area codes
- 2
The Athens, OH area
The Athens, OH micropolitan area covers 1 county in Ohio and had 63,218 residents in July 2024, up 1.3% since April 2020. The U.S. population grew 2.6% over the same period. By population it ranks 532nd of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas and 654th by business establishments.
| County | Population (2024) |
|---|---|
| Athens County, OH | 63,218 |
Source: Census Vintage 2024 metropolitan and micropolitan area estimates.
Establishments and employment in Athens, OH
County Business Patterns counted 1,030 establishments in the area in 2023, employing 13,467 people in mid-March with $570.5 million in annual payroll. That is an average of 13.1 employees per establishment. 47.0% of establishments with employees had fewer than five people. By establishment count, the largest sectors are retail trade (174), accommodation and food services (156), and health care and social assistance (147).
| Sector (NAICS) | Establishments | Employees | Annual payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade (44) | 174 | 2,444 | $78,390,000 |
| Accommodation and Food Services (72) | 156 | 3,033 | $50,344,000 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance (62) | 147 | 3,523 | $199,032,000 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) (81) | 118 | 546 | $14,973,000 |
| Construction (23) | 73 | 409 | $25,001,000 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54) | 73 | 542 | $32,021,000 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (53) | 63 | 233 | $7,629,000 |
| Finance and Insurance (52) | 57 | 383 | $21,722,000 |
| Manufacturing (31) | 32 | 465 (high noise) | $25,530,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56) | 30 | 241 | $10,833,000 |
| Transportation and Warehousing (48) | 28 | 212 | $9,688,000 |
| Information (51) | 22 | 273 | $24,249,000 |
| Wholesale Trade (42) | 20 | 436 | $21,713,000 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71) | 13 | 84 | $2,398,000 |
| Educational Services (61) | 8 | 90 (high noise) | $2,540,000 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11) | 5 | 6 (high noise) | $311,000 |
| Utilities (22) | 5 | 32 (high noise) | $2,767,000 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (21) | 3 | 11 | $947,000 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises (55) | 3 | 504 (high noise) | $40,401,000 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023, two-digit NAICS sectors. Manufacturing, retail and transportation span several two-digit codes; CBP reports them under 31, 44 and 48.
Athens, OH compared with the U.S.
Athens, OH has 16.3 business establishments per 1,000 residents, 33.7% below the U.S. figure of 24.6. Establishments average 13.1 employees against 16.7 nationally, and payroll per employee is $42,362 (38.0% below the U.S. $68,342). 47.0% of establishments with employees have fewer than five people (U.S.: 55.5%), while 4.4% have 50 or more. Most establishments are far smaller than the average suggests, so it pays to price a phone plan at the headcount you actually have rather than the average.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 483 | 47.0% | 55.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 227 | 22.1% | 17.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 161 | 15.7% | 12.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 111 | 10.8% | 9.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 45 | 4.4% | 5.4% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Small-business industries in Athens, OH
Of the 141 industries these guides cover, 56 have a published Census count in Athens, OH. The largest are limited-service restaurants (65), full-service restaurants (39), and physician practices (18). Relative to population, civic and social organizations are the most over-represented: 23.7 per 100,000 residents against 7.3 nationally.
| Industry | Establishments | Employees | Employees per establishment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited-service restaurants | 65 | 1,456 | 22.4 |
| Full-service restaurants | 39 | 947 | 24.3 |
| Physician practices | 18 | — | — |
| Law offices | 18 | 70 | 3.9 |
| Agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities | 17 | 401 | 23.6 |
| Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors | 17 | 95 | 5.6 |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 16 | 105 | 6.6 |
| Drinking places | 15 | 251 | 16.7 |
| Civic and social organizations | 15 | 70 | 4.7 |
| Residential property managers | 12 | 70 | 5.8 |
| Beauty salons | 12 | 62 | 5.2 |
| New single-family housing construction contractors | 11 | 39 | 3.5 |
| General automotive repair shops | 9 | — | — |
| Hotels and motels | 9 | 134 | 14.9 |
| Child day care services | 9 | 105 | 11.7 |
| Dental offices | 8 | 58 | 7.3 |
| Supermarkets and grocery stores | 8 | — | — |
| Site preparation contractors | 7 | — | — |
| Residential remodelers | 7 | — | — |
| Janitorial services | 7 | 54 | 7.7 |
| New car dealers | 7 | — | — |
| Automotive parts and accessories stores | 7 | 52 | 7.4 |
| Chiropractic offices | 6 | — | — |
| Pharmacies and drug stores | 6 | 103 | 17.2 |
| Management consulting firms | 6 | 14 | 2.3 |
Selected small-business industries (six-digit NAICS) covered by these guides. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Which area codes serve Athens, OH
The area's named cities and towns have 61 NANPA-assigned exchanges across 2 area codes; 740 has the most (59%). Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a business serving several parts of the area can hold a number in each.
Local numbers by city
Pages for 3 cities and towns in the area list their area codes, prefixes and carriers.
| Place | Population (2024) | Area codes | Exchanges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, OH | 31,108 | 220, 740 | 47 |
| Nelsonville, OH | 4,555 | 220, 740 | 4 |
| Glouster, OH | 1,647 | 740 | 2 |
Phone costs for a typical Athens, OH business
The comparison below uses 13 users, the rounded average establishment size in Athens, OH. At list prices checked September 28, 2026, that is $324.35 a month on Ooma Office Pro and $390.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core. Callata comes to $259.00 a month for 13 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $259.00 | $3,108.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $247.00 | $2,964.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $299.00 | $3,588.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $324.35 | $3,892.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $351.00 | $4,212.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $390.00 | $4,680.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Callata in Athens, OH
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
Porting a number you already use in Athens, OH is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
What area codes serve Athens, OH?
740 and 220, by NANPA-assigned exchanges in the area's named places.
How many businesses are in the Athens, OH area?
1,030 establishments in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
How much does a business phone system cost in Athens, OH?
Callata is $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user; for a 13-person team that is $259.00 a month. The same team on Ooma Office Pro lists at $324.35 a month (checked September 28, 2026).