County · Alabama
Lee County, Alabama
Lee County, Alabama. Lee County had 189,881 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 8.9% since 2020, faster than Alabama (+3.3%). It holds 7 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs) and 48 census tracts. GEOID 01081.
Lee County is one of the 2 counties of the Auburn-Opelika, AL metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
189,881
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 174,241 · ACS 2020-2024: 181,134
Median household income
$65,824
±$2,432 (90% margin)
Alabama: $63,999
Median home value
$262,200
±$6,835 (90% margin)
Alabama: $209,900
Median gross rent
$1,058
±$37 (90% margin)
Alabama: $1,007
How many people live in Lee County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 174,241 residents in Lee County. The Census Bureau estimates 189,881 for July 1, 2025, up 8.9% since 2020, faster than Alabama (+3.3%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 181,134 over 608 square miles of land.
| Measure | Lee County | Alabama | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 181,134 | 5,086,768 | +19,982 |
| Households | 69,436±892 | 1,997,247 | +9,199 |
| Average household size | 2.50±0.03 | 2.48 | −0.08 |
| Housing units | 79,619±68 | 2,337,265 | +10,647 |
Lee County's population since 2000
From 115,092 in 2000 to 189,881 in 2025: up 65.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Lee County?
Lee County holds 7 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Auburn with 85,113 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Auburn | 76,143 | $63,668 |
|---|---|---|
| Opelika | 30,995 | $65,004 |
| Phenix City | 38,816 | $50,053 |
| Smiths Station | 5,384 | $64,669 |
| LoachapokaGEOID 0143744 | 160 | $41,985 |
| WaverlyGEOID 0180256 | 159 | $81,953 |
| Notasulga | 914 | $42,411 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Lee County?
The median resident of Lee County is 34.0 years old; 20.9% are under 18 and 13.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 65.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 21.6%. 7.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lee County | Alabama | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0±0.3 | 39.3 | +2.1 |
| Under 18 years | 20.9% | 22.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.3%±0.1 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.4% | 5.6% | +1.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 65.3%±0.3 pts | 63.4% | −2.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 21.6%±0.3 pts | 25.6% | −1.1 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.3%±0.1 pts | 1.4% | +0.2 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7%±0.4 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.0%±0.5 pts | 4.0% | +1.4 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.6%±0.7 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.2%±0.6 pts | 7.7% | – |
| With a disability | 13.1%±0.8 pts | 16.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.6%±0.8 pts | 9.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.1%±0.8 pts | 88.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 42.4%±1.3 pts | 28.4% | +7.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 19.3%±1.0 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.9%±0.5 pts | 2.4% | – |
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 Lee County earn?
Half of Lee County's 69,436 households earn less than $65,824 a year (±$2,432), against $63,999 in Alabama. In 2015-2019 it was $63,335 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 18.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lee County | Alabama | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $65,824±$2,432 | $63,999 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $90,195±$3,166 | $88,898 | – |
| Per capita income | $35,940±$1,077 | $36,087 | +$1,653 |
| People below the poverty line | 18.9%±1.2 pts | 15.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.8%±2.6 pts | 21.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.0%±0.9 pts | 13.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.9%±1.1 pts | 87.5% | – |
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 Lee County?
Owners occupy 66.3% of Lee County's occupied homes and renters 33.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $262,200 by its owner (±$6,835). The median renter pays $1,058 a month including utilities, and 50.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lee County | Alabama | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $262,200±$6,835 | $209,900 | +$53,844 |
| Median gross rent | $1,058±$37 | $1,007 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 50.5%±3.2 pts | 39.9% | +4.8 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,529±$41 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 66.3%±1.4 pts | 70.2% | +4.7 pts |
| Housing units | 79,619±68 | 2,337,265 | +10,647 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.1%±0.8 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.1%±1.7 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 58.1%±1.5 pts | 69.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 14.3%±0.9 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.7%±0.6 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.2%±0.5 pts | 4.9% | – |
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 Lee County building?
Builders took permits for 1,575 new housing units across Lee County in 2025 (1,551 single-family), 8.3 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Lee County get to work?
79.1% of Lee County's workers drive alone and 9.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.5%.
| Measure | Lee County | Alabama | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.3%±1.2 pts | 58.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5%±0.6 pts | 4.7% | −1.7 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 79.1%±1.3 pts | 80.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.2%±1.1 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.7%±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 2.6%±0.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.5%±1.0 pts | 8.8% | +5.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.3 min±0.6 | 25.5 min | no clear change |
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 are Lee County's census tracts?
Lee County is divided into 48 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $15,241 (Tract 408.02) to $128,940 (Tract 405.01).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Lee County compare with Alabama's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 8th of 67 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 4th of 67 |
| Residents per square mile | 5th of 67 |
| Median household income | 13th of 67 |
| Median home value | 5th of 67 |
| Median gross rent | 9th of 67 |
| Poverty rate | 28th of 67 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3rd of 67 |
| Median age | 65th of 67 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Lee County 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' school search.