City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

Opelika, AL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Opelika - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

31,944
Residents
$58,763
Median income
$213,700
Median home
$1,181
Median rent (state)

Opelika - the verdict

Opelika ranks in the 33rd percentile for household income and the 14th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

33rd
percentile, household income
47th
percentile, home value
35th
percentile, median rent
14th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Opelika, AL

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 31,944 residents in Opelika, a small city within Alabama. The typical household in Opelika brings in $58,763 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 12.2%. Typical homes in Opelika are valued around $213,700, and the median resident age is 40.2 years. 33.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 57.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 543 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 65% from five years earlier. Opelika's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3184.5 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 62.3°F with 55.2 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Alabama run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Alabama at 88.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,181 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Alabama's average monthly utility costs around $245 (state average). Workers in Opelika report an average commute of 19.9 minutes, with 82.4% driving alone and 5.9% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 79.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

31,944 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alabama

Median Household Income

$58,763 /yr

Poverty 12.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

How does Opelika compare to other US cities?

Where Opelika sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 33% higher than other cities
Home value 47% pricier than other cities
Median rent 35% pricier than other cities
Safety 14% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Alabama, Opelika ranks #172 of 222 Alabama cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Opelika against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Alabama only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Alabama-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Opelika toward the top of Alabama's cities

Among the 556 Alabama cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Opelika ranks #65 - the 88th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Opelika only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#212 of 530
60th percentile in Alabama
Median Gross Rent
#137 of 556
75th percentile in Alabama
Median Home Value
#96 of 517
81st percentile in Alabama
Poverty Rate
#257 of 556
53rd percentile in Alabama
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#65 of 556
88th percentile in Alabama

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Alabama only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

33rdIncome percentile
14thSafety percentile

33rd percentile nationally for median household income · 14th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Opelika's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Opelika's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 35 Avg. percentile National median
Opelika's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Opelika's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$213,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 53% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Opelika $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Opelika, AL Opelika, AL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Opelika, AL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Opelika, AL median $58,763/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Opelika, AL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Opelika, AL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 33.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
31,944
Median Income
$58,763
Median Home Value
$213,700
Median Age
40.2
Poverty Rate
12.2%
Labor force participation
57.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
33.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3184.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
560.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2624.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
62.3°F
Annual Precipitation
55.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
12
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
30,000 residents32,000 residents34,000 residents36,000 residents38,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 31,087 residents 35,765 residents ▲ +15.0%
Opelika's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
543
housing units authorized
Single-Family
543
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
17
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 330
2020 409
2021 632
2022 562
2023 591
2024 543

Permit volume increased 65% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
19.9 minutes
Drive Alone
82.4%
Carpool
7.9%
Public Transit
1.3%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
5.9%
Other
1.3%

Based on 14,685 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alabama - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$138
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$245
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alabama state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alabama state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Opelika sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,181/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
79.7 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alabama

Northport
30,991 people
Gadsden
33,617 people
Alabaster
33,633 people
Enterprise
28,990 people
Daphne
28,673 people
Homewood
27,697 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Opelika's 31,944 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Milford Mill, MD
31,939 people
Pullman, WA
31,939 people
Beverly Hills, CA
31,955 people
Duluth, GA
31,958 people
Erie, CO
31,927 people
Seaside, CA
31,964 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Opelika's $58,763 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Beardstown, IL
$58,765 median income
Hondo, TX
$58,773 median income
Emmet, AR
$58,750 median income
Horseshoe Lake, AR
$58,750 median income
Mechanicsville, CT
$58,750 median income
Arcade, GA
$58,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Opelika, AL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Opelika, AL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 55.4% 37.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.7% White 55.4% Black or African American 37.5% Asian 1.8% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 4.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Opelika compares to nearby Alabama cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Opelika (this city) 31,944 $58,763
Northport 30,991 $77,781
Gadsden 33,617 $38,699
Alabaster 33,633 $90,163
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AL FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Opelika, AL?

What is the population of Opelika, AL? +

31,944 people live in Opelika, AL according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Opelika, AL? +

Opelika households earn a median of $58,763 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Opelika? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Opelika; the closest available measure is the Alabama state average, a cost of living index of 88.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alabama vary by metro area.

Is Opelika, AL safe? +

Opelika has a total crime rate of 3184.5 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Opelika, AL? +

Homes in Opelika carry a median value of $213,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Opelika? +

Climate normals put Opelika's yearly average temperature at 62.3°F, 55.2 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.