What are the schools like in Opelika, AL?

Opelika is served primarily by Opelika City. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.7:1.

What is the median household income in Opelika?

The median household income in Opelika, AL is $55,218 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Opelika, AL?

Opelika has an average high temperature of 55.6°F in January and 89.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 55.2 inches.

Opelika, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Opelika, AL affordable or expensive?

Opelika's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Opelika is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $191,800 and the median rent is $872 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Opelika, AL?

Opelika has a violent crime rate of 560.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2624.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Opelika, AL a Good Place to Live?

Opelika is a small city of 31,361 in Alabama, with a median household income of $55,218 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Opelika stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Opelika is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Opelika city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 88.9

Opelika's overall cost of living index is 88.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Opelika costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Opelika, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$191,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$872	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,218	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Opelika's violent crime rate is 560.3 per 100,000 residents — 47% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

560.3 /100k

Property Crime

2624.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Opelika is served primarily by Opelika City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Opelika, AL	National Avg
School District	Opelika City	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	32.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Opelika sees average highs of 55.6°F in January and 89.5°F in July, with 55.2 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Opelika, AL
Average High — January	55.6°F
Average High — July	89.5°F
Annual Precipitation	55.2"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Opelika, AL	National Avg
Population	31,361	—
Median Age	39.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	56.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	36.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	3.1%	6.3%
Under 18	22.1%	22.2%
65 and over	17.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Auburn, AL 8 mi Cusseta, AL 10 mi Waverly, AL 12 mi Loachapoka, AL 13 mi Valley, AL 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Opelika

Opelika, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

36801 36804

Opelika vs Other Cities

Opelika, AL vs Auburn, AL Opelika, AL vs Cusseta, AL Opelika, AL vs Waverly, AL Opelika, AL vs Loachapoka, AL Opelika, AL vs Valley, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Opelika, AL affordable or expensive?

Opelika's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Opelika roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $191,800 and median rent is $872/month.

What is the crime rate in Opelika, AL?

Opelika's violent crime rate is 560.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2624.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Opelika?

Public schools in Opelika are operated by Opelika City. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.7:1. 32.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Opelika, AL a good place to live?

Opelika, AL has a population of 31,361, a median household income of $55,218, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Opelika?

Opelika averages 55.6°F in January and 89.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.2 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Opelika?

Opelika, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 36801, 36804.

What is the population of Opelika?

The population of Opelika, Alabama is 31,361 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Opelika?

Key numbers for living in Opelika: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $191,800, median household income $55,218, crime index 138 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Opelika side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.