City · Alabama
Opelika, Alabama
Opelika, city, in Lee County, Alabama. Opelika had 35,765 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 15.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 30,995 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 32,820 (±41). GEOID 0157048.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
35,765
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 30,995 · ACS 2020-2024: 32,820 ±41
Median household income
$65,004
±$6,526 (90% margin)
Alabama: $63,999
Median home value
$241,800
±$11,078 (90% margin)
Alabama: $209,900
Median gross rent
$950
±$57 (90% margin)
Alabama: $1,007
Where is Opelika and what county is it in?
Opelika is a city in Lee County, Alabama. It covers 61.5 square miles of land, 504 residents per square mile in 2020.
Opelika is in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Opelika, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 35,765 people lived in Opelika on July 1, 2025, up 15.3% since 2020, faster than Alabama (+3.3%). The 2020 Census counted 30,995 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 32,820 (±41).
| Measure | Opelika | Lee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 32,820 ±41 | 181,134 | +2,588 |
| Households | 13,467 ±563 | 69,436 | +1,601 |
| Average household size | 2.39 ±0.10 | 2.50 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 15,020 ±540 | 79,619 | +2,143 |
Opelika's population since 2000
From 23,498 in 2000 to 35,765 in 2025: up 52.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Opelika as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Opelika?
The median resident of Opelika is 39.9 years old; 23.9% are under 18 and 18.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 51.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 37.7%. 5.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Opelika | Lee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 ±1.2 | 34.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.9% ±1.8 pts | 20.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.4% ±1.6 pts | 13.3% | – |
| Male | 49.5% ±1.8 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.2% ±2.2 pts | 5.4% | +3.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 51.3% ±3.2 pts | 65.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 37.7% ±3.1 pts | 21.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.8% ±0.6 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±0.6 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.2% ±1.4 pts | 7.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.4% ±1.9 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.8% ±1.3 pts | 7.2% | – |
| With a disability | 15.6% ±2.0 pts | 13.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.8% ±2.5 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.2% ±2.1 pts | 92.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 36.4% ±3.6 pts | 42.4% | +6.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.2% ±1.9 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.9% ±2.5 pts | 85.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.4% ±0.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Opelika earn?
Half of Opelika's 13,467 households earn less than $65,004 a year (±$6,526), against $65,824 in Lee County and $63,999 in Alabama. In 2015-2019 it was $59,638 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Opelika | Lee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $65,004 ±$6,526 | $65,824 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $82,687 ±$4,786 | $90,195 | – |
| Per capita income | $35,177 ±$2,459 | $35,940 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.0% ±3.4 pts | 18.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 23.7% ±7.5 pts | 16.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.4% ±2.7 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.2% ±2.0 pts | 95.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.1% ±2.6 pts | 88.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Opelika?
Owners occupy 69.1% of Opelika's occupied homes and renters 30.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $241,800 by its owner (±$11,078). The median renter pays $950 a month including utilities, and 46.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Opelika | Lee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $241,800 ±$11,078 | $262,200 | +$55,596 |
| Median gross rent | $950 ±$57 | $1,058 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.7% ±6.1 pts | 50.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,403 ±$54 | $1,529 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.1% ±3.4 pts | 66.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 30.9% ±3.4 pts | 33.7% | – |
| Housing units | 15,020 ±540 | 79,619 | +2,143 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.2% ±1.4 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.9% ±4.0 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 68.8% ±3.0 pts | 58.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 10.1% ±2.4 pts | 14.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 6.4% ±1.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 19.0% ±2.3 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.9% ±1.4 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.4% ±2.1 pts | 4.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Opelika building?
Builders took permits for 568 new housing units in Opelika in 2025 (564 in single-family houses), 15.9 per 1,000 residents against 3.7 across Alabama.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Opelika work and get to work?
82.7% of Opelika's workers drive alone and 7.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.6%.
| Measure | Opelika | Lee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.5% ±3.4 pts | 60.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% ±2.4 pts | 3.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 82.7% ±3.0 pts | 79.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.3% ±2.0 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.1% ±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 1.1% ±0.9 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.5% ±2.0 pts | 9.5% | +4.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.1 min ±1.1 | 22.3 min | +2.5 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Opelika?
10 census tracts lie mostly in Opelika, and 6 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $28,275 (Tract 411.01) to $107,550 (Tract 412).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 412Lee County | 5,987 | $107,550 |
| Tract 414Lee County | 3,751 | $32,962 |
| Tract 411.04Lee County | 3,625 | $83,750 |
| Tract 416Lee County | 3,515 | $31,766 |
| Tract 417.03Lee County | 6,000 | $66,586 |
| Tract 413Lee County | 3,111 | $54,177 |
| Tract 411.01Lee County | 2,433 | $28,275 |
| Tract 417.01Lee County | 3,148 | $83,833 |
| Tract 417.02Lee County | 3,024 | $44,597 |
| Tract 411.03Lee County | 1,834 | $54,129 |
| Tract 405.01Lee County | 7,534 | $128,940 |
| Tract 410.01Lee County | 8,587 | $125,677 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Opelika) · Census block assignment files
How does Opelika compare with other places in Alabama?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Opelika is the 1,150th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 15th-most populous of 463 in Alabama.
Opelika ranks 125th of 305 places in Alabama with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 15th | 463 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 22nd | 257 |
| Residents per square mile | 117th | 311 |
| Median household income | 125th | 305 |
| Per capita income | 100th | 311 |
| Median home value | 60th | 304 |
| Median gross rent | 117th | 274 |
| Poverty rate | 154th | 258 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44th | 295 |
| Median age | 146th | 309 |
| Owner-occupied share | 165th | 310 |
| Work from home | 81st | 138 |
| Travel time to work | 240th | 310 |
Opelika's figures with every place in Alabama (CSV)
Every place in Alabama, sortable · Compare Opelika with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Opelika?
5 of the 57 figures for Opelika on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Opelika are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Opelika.