In Opelika, a typical home is worth $241,800 and typical rent is $950 a month. Compared with all of Lee County, typical rent is 10% lower and the typical home value is 8% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $248,671 to $308,920.
Typical rent
$1,437a month
▲ 2.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, June 2024 to September 2026: from $1,266 to $1,437.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Opelika is in Lee County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lee County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Lanett, the typical home value is $95,600: 60% less than in Opelika ($241,800).
2
Nearby, in Tuskegee, the typical rent is $757: 20% less than in Opelika ($950).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Opelika
What homes there are in Opelika, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Opelika
Lee County
Alabama
United States
Kind of home: Opelika and its comparisons
Measure
Opelika
Lee County
Alabama
United States
Detached house
69%
58%
69%
61%
Attached house
3%
5%
2%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
8%
6%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
10%
17%
12%
19%
Mobile home
10%
14%
12%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 69% of homes here, against 58% in Lee County.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Opelika
Lee County
Alabama
United States
Year built: Opelika and its comparisons
Measure
Opelika
Lee County
Alabama
United States
Before 1960
13%
7%
16%
26%
1960–1979
22%
16%
26%
24%
1980–1999
24%
32%
29%
25%
2000–2009
15%
21%
15%
14%
2010 or later
25%
24%
13%
11%
In Opelika, half of the homes were built before 1992; in Lee County, before 1997.
Much as in Lee County, 72% of homes in Opelika have 3 bedrooms or more.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K19%
$100K–$200K19%
$200K–$300K28%
$300K–$500K26%
$500K–$750K7%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Opelika and its comparisons
Measure
Opelika
Under $100K
19%
$100K–$200K
19%
$200K–$300K
28%
$300K–$500K
26%
$500K–$750K
7%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
About 92% of owner-occupied homes in Opelika are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Lee County ($541,287).
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $50017%
$500–$99939%
$1,000–$1,49934%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,277
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Opelika and its comparisons
Measure
Opelika
Under $500
17%
$500–$999
39%
$1,000–$1,499
34%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
By rent, most homes in Opelika cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,277): about 74%.
With a mortgage
$1,403 a month
Lee County: $1,529 a month
Without a mortgage
$460 a month
Lee County: $481 a month
Owners with a mortgage
62%
Lee County: 61%
In Opelika, 62% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,403 a month, against $1,529 in Lee County. Without one it drops to $460.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Opelika+60%
Lee County+55%
Alabama+47%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Opelika+26%
Lee County+24%
Alabama+27%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Opelika+34%
Lee County+28%
Alabama+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Opelika and its comparisons
Measure
Opelika
Lee County
Alabama
United States
Typical home value
+60%
+55%
+47%
+53%
Typical rent
+26%
+24%
+27%
+33%
Typical household income
+34%
+28%
+27%
+29%
Since 2015–2019, homes in Opelika gained value faster than in Lee County: 60% against 55%.
Rents in Opelika rose at about the same pace as in Lee County: 26% since 2015–2019, against 24%.
The typical household income in Opelika rose 34% over that time; home values changed +60% and rent +26%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Opelika and its comparisons
Measure
Opelika
Lee County
Alabama
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
8.1%
7.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
2.1%
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
2.0%
1.7%
3.4%
People per household
2.39
2.50
2.48
2.53
Drive alone
83%
79%
81%
69%
Carpool
6%
7%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
1%
0%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
3%
1%
3%
Work from home
8%
10%
9%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
By size, households in Opelika look like those in Lee County: 2.39 people on average.
To get to work, 83% of workers in Opelika drive alone; in Lee County, 79%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Opelika?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Opelika, worth $241,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 35% of the typical household income in Opelika, which is $65,004 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $82,063 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lee County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Opelika. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $8,463 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,915
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$237,420
Total interest
$341,592
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,083 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,517 a month
Tight
$1,517 to $1,950 a month
Your payment · 35%
Hard
more than $1,950 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Opelika ($65,004 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,608
Property tax
$99
Home insurance
$101
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$107
You need at least $8,463 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,915; principal and interest $1,608.
The city and its county
Opelika and Lee County
Opelika is in Lee County, Alabama. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Opelika
Map of Lee County, Alabama, with Opelika marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Opelika
Lee County
Other cities with a page
Opelika's own numbers
Typical home value
$241,800
Typical monthly rent
$950
Typical yearly household income
$65,004
Households that own their home
69%
Effective property tax rate
0.49%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Lee County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,277
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+50%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.9%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lee County.
A typical home in Opelika is worth $241,800: 8% below the county and 15% above Alabama. With the typical household income in Opelika ($65,004 a year), a typical home costs 3.7 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Opelika3.7 years
Lee4.0 years
Alabama3.3 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Lee County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lee County rose 87% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lee County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Lee County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +4.1% +4.1% 2016
2017: +5.1% +5.1% 2017
2018: +5.1% +5.1% 2018
2019: +4.9% +4.9% 2019
2020: +2.9% +2.9% 2020
2021: +10.0% +10.0% 2021
2022: +13.8% +13.8% 2022
2023: +10.8% +10.8% 2023
2024: +3.5% +3.5% 2024
2025: +4.7% +4.7% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Lee County, Alabama and the United States
Period
County
Alabama
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+4.7%
+2.5%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+50%
+47%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+87%
+77%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Opelika next to Lee County, Alabama and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Opelika$241,800
Lee$262,200
Alabama$209,900
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Opelika$950
Lee$1,058
Alabama$1,007
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Opelika$65,004
Lee$65,824
Alabama$63,999
United States$80,734
See the full table
Opelika next to Lee County and Alabama
Measure
Opelika
Lee County
Alabama
U.S.
Typical home value
$241,800 ▼8% below the county
$262,200
$209,900
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$950 ▼10% below the county
$1,058
$1,007
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$65,004
$65,824
$63,999
$80,734
Households that own their home
69% ▲3 points above the county
66%
70%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,183 ▼6% below the county
$1,252
$788
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.49% ▲0.01 points above the county
0.48%
0.38%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
56% ▼1 points below the county
57%
49%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lee County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Opelika
For a typical $241,800 home in Opelika, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Opelika's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,915a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$8,463
Cash to close
$15,717
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $107
Conventional, 5% down$1,870a month
Down payment
$12,090
Cash to close
$19,344
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $115
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,510a month
Down payment
$48,360
Cash to close
$55,614
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,733a month
Down payment
$36,270
Cash to close
$43,524
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Opelika
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,915
$8,463
$237,420
7.18%
FHA MIP · $107
$15,717
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,870
$12,090
$229,710
7.18%
PMI · $115
$19,344
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,510
$48,360
$193,440
7.18%
None
$55,614
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,733
$36,270
$205,530
8.18%
None
$43,524
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Opelika is $950 a month: 10% below the county. In Opelika, 56% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lee County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,277 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.56 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Lee County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$891
$17.13
$35,640
1 bedroom
$1,167
$22.44
$46,680
2 bedrooms
$1,277
$24.56
$51,080
3 bedrooms
$1,548
$29.77
$61,920
4 bedrooms
$1,794
$34.50
$71,760
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Opelika
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Opelika has 2 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,070 in 36804 to $1,190 in 36801.
None is above the fair market rent for Lee County ($1,277).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Opelika, fiscal year 2027.
36801
$830
$1,090
$1,190
$1,440
$1,670
36804
$810
$970
$1,070
$1,350
$1,540
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
36801 $1,190$1,440
36804 $1,070$1,350
2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Opelika when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 13 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Opelika. These are the largest.
Hyatt Homes1202 Samford Pl, Opelika 36801241 low-income homes · For families(334) 745-7537
Hardaway Homes1706 Toomer St, Opelika 36801238 low-income homes · For families(334) 745-4171
Pleasant Homes316 Pleasant Dr, Opelika 36801155 homes, 154 low-income · For families(334) 741-7466
Pinehurst Villas1500 Pinehurst Dr, Opelika 36801104 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 62 · 3 bd: 26 · In service since 1995 · For families
Ashton Way Apts201 Samford Ave, Opelika 3680170 homes, 59 low-income · 1 bd: 30 · 2 bd: 40 · In service since 2002 · For older adults, people with disabilities
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lee County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Opelika or Lee County. The ones below are statewide in Alabama: they work in Opelika the same as in the rest of the state.
Alabama state authority program with down payment assistance of 4% of the price (up to $10,000) as a 10-year second mortgage, alongside a 30-year fixed mortgage.Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).
Alabama state authority 30-year low-rate mortgage, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, with down payment assistance of 4% of the price, up to $10,000, as a ten-year second mortgage.Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).
Alabama state authority grant for closing costs with an HFA Advantage conventional loan: 1% of the loan if you earn up to 50% of the area median, or half a percent if you earn 50% to 80%.Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Opelika or Lee County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Opelika and all of Lee County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Opelika?
The typical home value in Opelika is $241,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lee County it is $262,200.
How much does it cost to rent in Opelika?
Typical rent in Opelika is $950 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lee County is $1,277.
What is the FHA loan limit in Opelika?
Opelika uses the FHA limit for all of Lee County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Opelika?
The typical homeowner in Opelika pays $1,183 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.49% of the home’s value; in Lee County, the rate is 0.48%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Opelika?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lee County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
