Opelika, Alabama Income Statistics
Opelika Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Opelika Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Opelika | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $60,721 | $64,544 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,809 | $52,756 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.4% | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.0% | 9.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.4% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Opelika is about 6% lower than in Alabama. Income has been growing faster in Opelika (6.4%/yr) than in Alabama (4.7%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Opelika earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Alabama average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Opelika, Alabama grew by 82.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $60,721 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.4% per year.
Opelika has stayed well below the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024 and has never reached it. The gap has narrowed from 35% in 2009 to 25% in 2024, the closest it has been.
Income Distribution in Opelika
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 3,381 households (28.9% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 32.2% of households in Opelika had an income under $35,000 and 13.5% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Opelika has a larger share of households earning under $10,000 (8.9% vs 5.1%) and a smaller share earning $200,000 or more (6.4% vs 13.2%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 1,036 | 8.9% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 803 | 6.9% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 946 | 8.1% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 987 | 8.4% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 1,358 | 11.6% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 1,703 | 14.5% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 1,491 | 12.7% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 1,798 | 15.4% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 833 | 7.1% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 750 | 6.4% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 11,704 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 2,069 residents (9.0% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 10.7% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 15.6% of Opelika residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 29.6% had some income but less than $25,000, and 16.9% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Opelika has a larger share of residents with no personal income (15.6% vs 12.8%) and a smaller share earning $100,000 or more (9.0% vs 13.9%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 3,566 | 15.6% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 2,128 | 9.3% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 1,916 | 8.4% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 2,732 | 11.9% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 2,394 | 10.5% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 2,978 | 13.0% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 3,296 | 14.4% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 1,803 | 7.9% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 2,069 | 9.0% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 22,882 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 15.6% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Opelika
| Metric | Opelika | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.554 | 0.560 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,097 | $62,840 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,793 | $47,036 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.3% | 25.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Opelika, it is 0.554, lower than Alabama's 0.560, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 32% more than women's income in Opelika, Alabama. Over a 35-year career, a 32% wage gap accumulates to roughly $535,640 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Opelika, Alabama has narrowed from about 25% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2018, and was narrowest at 10% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,540 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Opelika | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.0% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 742 people are unemployed in Opelika, Alabama.
The average commute time in Opelika is 18 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Alabama.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Opelika, Alabama has fallen from 8.7% to 5.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 3.9% in 2020.
Opelika has crossed the U.S. unemployment rate 3 times since 2011, most recently moving above it in 2024, at 0.4 points higher.
Opelika, AL Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Opelika, AL compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opelika, AL | 28,165 | $60,721 #1/2 | 6.4%/yr #1/2 | 5.6% #2/2 | 0.554 #1/2 |
| Auburn, AL | 68,130 | $55,465 | 6.2%/yr | 3.3% | 0.650 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Opelika, Alabama has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Alabama, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Opelika, Alabama.
How Wealthy Is Opelika, Alabama?
Opelika has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $60,721, about 6% lower than the Alabama average of $64,544.
How fast is household income rising in Opelika, Alabama?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Opelika, Alabama rose 82%, from $33,322 to $60,721. Over the same years, income here outpaced Alabama as a whole: +82% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Opelika in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Opelika, Alabama was $55,757, up 6% from $52,820 in 2022. The Alabama median that year was $62,326.
What was the median household income in Opelika in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Opelika, Alabama was $46,405. By 2024 it had risen 31% to $60,721.
What is the Gini coefficient in Opelika, Alabama?
The Gini coefficient in Opelika is 0.554. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Opelika, Alabama?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Opelika, Alabama has narrowed from about 25% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2018, and was narrowest at 10% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,540 since 2009.
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