The Town FilesOpelika, Alabama
City in Lee County · population 30,995 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $241,800
- Household income
- $65,004
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 39.9
Opelika is a city of 30,995 people in Lee County, Alabama. The median home is worth $241,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 93% of Alabama towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Alabama towns.
How Opelika ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Opelika is worth $241,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $65,004, which is more affordable than 17% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 69.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Opelika | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $241,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $950 | $834 |
| Median household income | $65,004 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.1% | — |
Who lives in Opelika
| People | Opelika | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.4% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.0% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Opelika
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 33.0°F. About 55.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Opelika since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 5, 1954 about 1.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 217 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 23, 1983.
Severe weather in Lee County since 1996
Lee County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
| March 5, 2019 | Tornado | DR-4419: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Lee County
Lee County had 66,643 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,394 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Opelika itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Opelika
13 public schools with 7,108 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opelika High School | 9-12 | 1,530 | 16.8 |
| Beauregard Elementary School | PK-4 | 801 | 15.4 |
| Opelika Middle School | 7-8 | 798 | 16.0 |
| Beauregard High School | 9-12 | 558 | 12.7 |
| Sanford Middle School | 5-8 | 545 | 16.5 |
| Southview Primary School | K-2 | 467 | 18.0 |
| Northside School | 3-5 | 459 | 20.0 |
| Jeter Primary School | K-2 | 434 | 15.5 |
| Carver Primary School | K-2 | 397 | 16.5 |
| Fox Run School | 6-6 | 384 | 25.6 |
| West Forest Intermediate School | 3-5 | 373 | 14.9 |
| Morris Avenue Intermediate School | 3-5 | 362 | 16.5 |
Towns near Opelika
- Auburn, AL7.5 mi · 76,143 people · home $364,800
- Valley, AL15.4 mi · 10,529 people · home $140,800
- La Fayette, AL16.5 mi · 2,684 people · home $85,900
- Lanett, AL16.9 mi · 6,970 people · home $95,600
- Smiths Station, AL18.9 mi · 5,384 people · home $203,300
- West Point, GA21.4 mi · 3,719 people · home $199,500
- Ladonia, AL21.8 mi · 3,074 people · home $102,000
- Tuskegee, AL24.3 mi · 9,395 people · home $104,800
Opelika questions
Is Opelika, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Opelika scores better for retirees than 46% of Alabama towns and quieter than 14%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Opelika?
The median owner-occupied home in Opelika is valued at $241,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,004, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in Opelika?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 33.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Opelika get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Opelika since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 5, 1954. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)