Opelika, AL: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Opelika (pronounced OH-pə-LY-kə) is a city in, and the county seat of, Lee County in the east-central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 census, the population of Opelika is 30,995, an increase of 17.1 percent from the 2010 Census where the population was 26,477. The Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA with a population of 174,241, along with the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, comprises the Greater Columbus combined statistical area, a region home to 501,649 residents.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Opelika ranks

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#12Most new homes in AL #21Lowest depression in AL #38Most educated in AL All AL rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code36801, 36803, 36804

Area code334

Living in Opelika

Housing in Opelika

$309K▲ 3.4% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Opelika home is worth about $309,000, up 3.4% in a year, 28% above the Alabama typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market46

Sale-to-list99.9%

Sold in May72

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Opelika

D

Safety Grade D

Opelika reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 89% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Opelika 4.5

Alabama 3.5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Opelika 19.8

Alabama 15

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Opelika

C

Health Grade C

Healthier than 25% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Alabama

4worse than AL

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 28 are too close to call.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

12.4%More adults facing a utility shut-offAL 9.6% · worse 17.3%More adults facing housing insecurityAL 13.9% · worse 11.9%More adults without reliable transportationAL 9.8% · worse

Care nearby

The East Alabama Healthcare AuthorityOpelika · 2.1 mi · ER

Chambers Quality Health CareLanett · 17.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Opelika · CMS · HRSAHealth in Opelika →

Schools in Opelika

All Opelika schools →

B

School Grade B

The public schools Opelika’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 64% of Alabama’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Opelika’s schools compare in AL →

DistrictOpelika CitySchools12

Southview Primary SchoolElementary · Grades K–2 · 480 students Northside School AElementary · Grades 3–5 · 464 students Jeter Primary School D-Elementary · Grades K–3 · 435 students Carver Primary SchoolElementary · Grades K–3 · 414 students Morris Avenue Intermediate School AElementary · Grades 3–5 · 397 students West Forest Intermediate School BElementary · Grades 3–5 · 393 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within AL. Ratings are from neighbors.

Famous people from OpelikaWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Opelika.Meet them →