Living in Opelika, Alabama
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Opelika · Census data 2020–2024
Opelika has 32,820 residents with a median age of 39.9. The median household income is $65,004 (about the same as the Alabama median), the median home value is $241,800, the median rent is $950/month.
Opelika at a glance
- Population
- 32,820
- Median age
- 39.9State: 39.3
- Median household income
- $65,004State: $63,999
- Median home value
- $241,800State: $209,900
- Median rent
- $950/moState: $1,007
- Homeowners
- 69.1%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 36.4%
- Average commute
- 22 min
Is Opelika a good place to live?
Pros: Median household income about the same as the Alabama median; an average commute of 22 minutes.
Cons: Home values 15% higher than the state median; unemployment of 5.6%; a poverty rate of 16%.
The weather is best in April–May and September–October.
Cost of living in Opelika
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Opelika the median home value is $241,800, 27% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $950 per month, which is 33.3% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,403 a month in housing costs.
Opelika median household income
The median household income in Opelika is $65,004 and the income per person is $35,177. 16% of residents live below the poverty line (Alabama: 15.6%).
Housing in Opelika: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 15,020
- Owner-occupied
- 69.1%
- Renter-occupied
- 30.9%
- Vacant
- 10.3%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1992
- Average household size
- 2.39
Opelika demographics
- Population
- 32,820
- Median age
- 39.9
- Under 18
- 23.9%
- 65 and older
- 18.4%
- Households
- 13,467
- Foreign-born
- 5.2%
- Veterans
- 7.8%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Opelika ›
Education in Opelika
36.4% of adults 25 and older in Opelika have a bachelor's degree or higher (Alabama: 28.4%), and 14.2% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Opelika
- Unemployment rate
- 5.6%State: 4.7%
- Average commute
- 22 minState: 26 min
- Work from home
- 7.5%
- Drive alone
- 82.7%
- Public transit
- 1.1%
- Walk to work
- 1.1%
- Homes with broadband
- 86.1%
Opelika vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opelika | 32,820 | $65,004 | $241,800 | $950 |
| Auburn | 80,594 | $63,668 | $364,800 | $1,098 |
| Cusseta | 148 | $80,385 | — | $1,042 |
| Waverly | 315 | $81,953 | $377,800 | — |
| Loachapoka | 223 | $41,985 | $220,200 | $905 |
| Huguley | 2,577 | $43,750 | $141,500 | $838 |
| Valley | 10,277 | $51,661 | $140,800 | $1,016 |
| La Fayette | 2,633 | $32,601 | $85,900 | $645 |
| Lanett | 6,814 | $42,357 | $95,600 | $940 |
More for people moving to Opelika
Opelika ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Opelika: FAQ
What is the median household income in Opelika, AL?
The median household income in Opelika is $65,004, about the same as the Alabama median of $63,999 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Opelika?
The median home value in Opelika is $241,800, compared with $209,900 in Alabama.
How much is rent in Opelika?
The median gross rent in Opelika is $950 per month, about 33.3% of household income.
Is Opelika, AL a good place to live?
Pluses: median household income about the same as the Alabama median; an average commute of 22 minutes. Minuses: home values 15% higher than the state median; unemployment of 5.6%; a poverty rate of 16%.
What is the median age in Opelika?
The median age in Opelika is 39.9 years (Alabama: 39.3).
How long is the commute in Opelika?
The average commute to work in Opelika is 22 minutes; 7.5% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Opelika?
The unemployment rate in Opelika is 5.6% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Opelika?
36.4% of adults in Opelika have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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