Being less humid than the tropical coast Atherton is a prosperous community with a vibrant social and cultural life.
This cool climate makes atherton an attractive destination for tourists and retirees looking for a tree change. The surrounding land is used to grow a variety of crops, including coffee, sugar cane, peanuts, mangoes, corn, avocados, blueberries, blackberries and macadamias. It is also a big area for dairy and beef cattle.