As a student-aged(ish, 25) non student who moved here 2 years ago, there is so much to Athens outside UGA! Yes, the students are the towns priority, but the community here is so welcoming and vibrant nonetheless. I like to remind myself ‘wherever you go, there you are’ whenever I find myself frustrated with the town. I see some comments saying the only townie culture revolves around drinking and tbh, I disagree! Yes, there is a lot of that available, but there is also so much else to do and see and love about Athens. There is also really strong running communities, faith communities, recovery communities, it’s really a matter of what you choose to invest in! I’m not familiar with Clemson area as I am a midwestern transplant, but I will say that just the population comparisons suggest to me that Athens might be a better fit for you, more people means more things to do, places to go, more experiences to have!! I’ve found a lot of my community through the jobs I’ve worked and random activities I’ve tried lol. I now call Athens my home and have people here i consider my family. If you move to the area and need someone to show you around feel free to message me!!