PlainZIP

Opelika, AL · standard

ZIP Code 36801

Lee County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

22,214
120/sq mi
$62,414
Median income
$234,600
Median home value
35.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Opelika pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

34th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 46%
home value, US ZIPs
120
people per sq mi
64%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 36801 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 36801 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, with 22,214 residents across 185.4 square miles, a density of 120 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 36801 reports a modest median household income of $62,414 (2% above the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $34,897. 19.0% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 5.5%. Housing costs here run $234,600 for a typical home value (32% above the state average), with rent averaging $932 a month; 64.2% of homes are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 35.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.6, and the average commute is 21 minutes. Beyond these figures, 2 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Lee County, letting you compare 36801 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 36801

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Opelika, AL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 36801.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 36801?

40.6

Median Age

48.7%

Male

51.3%

Female

4.7%

Foreign-Born

White 54.5%
African American 38.6%
Asian 1.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 4.1%
Hispanic or Latino 5.9%

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

How ZIP 36801 ranks nationally

Opelika, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$62,414 34th percentile higher than 34% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 59.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 35.7%

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

Owner 64.2%
Renter 35.8%

$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 →

ZIP 36801 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 36801 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
36852 Cusseta, AL 2,129 7.6 mi
36849 Auburn University, AL 3,150 8.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Lee County

36830 standard
Auburn, AL
Pop: 33,201
36832 standard
Auburn, AL
Pop: 22,071
36870 standard
Phenix City, AL
Pop: 18,783
36804 standard
Opelika, AL
Pop: 16,861
36877 standard
Smiths Station, AL
Pop: 11,414
36874 standard
Salem, AL
Pop: 7,901

Related Areas

Lee County Opelika, AL Alabama

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 36801 in? ▼
ZIP code 36801 (Opelika) is located in Lee County, Alabama. Lee County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lee-al.
What is the population of ZIP code 36801? ▼
ZIP code 36801 in Opelika, AL has a population of 22,214 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 36801? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 36801 is $62,414, which is 18% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 36801? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 36801 is $234,600, which is 16% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 36801? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 36801 is White at 54.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 36801? ▼
ZIP code 36801 has 981 business establishments employing approximately 20,973 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 36801? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 36801 are: Retail trade (202), Accommodation and food services (112), Health care and social assistance (110). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 36801? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 36801 increased by 1.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 126%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 36801? ▼
In ZIP code 36801, 59.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 35.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 36801? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 36801 is 21.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 36801? ▼
In ZIP code 36801, approximately 64.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 35.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 36801? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 36801 is 19.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.