At a Glance
Median Income
$58,763
$33,595 per capita
Home Value
$213,700
Zillow: $308,650
Median Rent
$947/mo
29.7% of income on rent
Violent Crime
578/100K
2,650/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
33.5%
88.2% high school+
Unemployment
5.1%
12.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
42.6%
15.5% smoking rate
How Opelika Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Opelika's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Opelika a Good Place to Live?
B
3.2 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Opelika residents earn a median household income of $58,763 , which is 22% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $33,595. The unemployment rate stands at 5.1% (42% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 12.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 4,362 business establishments, including 421 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Opelika is $213,700 , 24% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $308,650. Median rent is $947/month, with 29.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 88.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1991.
Safety & Crime
Opelika reports 578 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 52% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 2,650/100K. The murder rate is 11.6/100K.
Education
33.5% of adults in Opelika hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(1% below the national average).
88.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Opelika has an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C).
Winters average 44°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 55.2 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population31,944
Median Age40.2 yrs
Density520/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born4.9%
Veterans8.2%
Economy
B
Median Income$58,763
Per Capita$33,595
Unemployment5.1%
Poverty12.2%
County GDP$9,275M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,027
Housing
A+
Home Value$213,700
Rent$947
Ownership68.8%
Zillow$308,650
Housing Units13,644
Rent Burden29.7%
Crime
F
Violent578/100K
Property2,650/100K
Murder11.6/100K
Assault456/100K
Burglary206/100K
Health
Obesity42.6%
Diabetes14.3%
Smoking15.5%
Heart Disease6.1%
Premature Death7,894/100K
Climate
Avg Temp62°F
Rain55.2 in/yr
Elevation814 ft
Education
B+
Bachelor's+33.5%
High School+88.2%
Graduate+12.0%
School Score5.4/10
Community
2024 VoteR 63% / D 35%
Commute21 min
Broadband83.5%
Internet Speed191 Mbps
EV Stations17
Libraries2
Did You Know?
The median home in Opelika was built in 1991.
The nearest airport is Auburn University Regional (4 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.513 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
15.4% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 191 Mbps.
There are 421 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 16 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.