ZIP Code 36801
standardSource:
Opelika · Lee County · Alabama
- Population
- 22,214
- Median income
- $62,414
- Median home value
- $234,600
- Bachelor's or higher
- 35.7%
- Land area
- 185.4 sq mi
120/sq mi
▼ 18% vs US
higher than 34% of US ZIPs
▼ 16% vs US
higher than 54% of US ZIPs
Median age 40.6
Chicago
ZIP code 36801 in Opelika, Alabama has a population of 22,214. The median household income is $62,414, which is 18% below the national average. Median home value is $234,600, 16% below the US average. 35.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 36801 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 185.4 square miles in Opelika, Lee County, Alabama. The area is home to 22,214 residents, producing a population density of 120 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 36801 against Alabama and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 36801 sits at $62,414 (2% above the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $34,897. The poverty rate stands at 19.0% and the unemployment rate at 5.5%. On housing, the median home value is $234,600 (32% above the state average) with median rent at $932 per month, and 64.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 36801 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 35.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.6, and the average commute is 21 minutes. We also surface 2 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Lee County, so you can benchmark 36801 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 36801
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 36801.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
202 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
112 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
110 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
86 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 80
Other services (except public administration)
80 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 36801, Opelika, AL · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
22,214
Population
185.4
Area (sq mi)
120
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 36801?
40.6
Median Age
48.7%
Male
51.3%
Female
4.7%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$62,414
Median Household Income
+2% vs state
$34,897
Per Capita Income
19.0%
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Unemployment Rate
21.3 min
Mean Commute Time
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
12,019
Total Housing Units
10,651
Occupied Units
1,368
Vacant Units
2.33
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$234,600
Median Home Value
+32% vs state
$932
Median Rent
1988
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+1.4%
YoY Change (2024)
226
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+126%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 36801 have increased 1.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +126% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.1% | 160 |
| 2021 | +11.3% | 179 |
| 2022 | +14.3% | 204 |
| 2023 | +9.1% | 223 |
| 2024 | +1.4% | 226 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 981 business establishments in ZIP 36801, employing approximately 20,973 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,024,920,000.
981
Businesses
20,973
Employees
$1.0B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 202 | 20.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 112 | 11.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 110 | 11.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 86 | 8.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 80 | 8.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 79 | 8.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 67 | 6.8% |
| Manufacturing | 44 | 4.5% |
| Construction | 42 | 4.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 40 | 4.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 36 | 3.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 32 | 3.3% |
| Information | 25 | 2.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 12 | 1.2% |
| Educational services | 7 | 0.7% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 4 | 0.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 36801 vs 36852 →
More ZIP Codes in Lee County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 36801 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 36801? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 36801? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 36801? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 36801? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 36801? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 36801? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 36801? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 36801? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 36801? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 36801? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 36801? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Opelika, AL
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.