Opelika, AL Demographics

A map of Opelika's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	16,826	14,836	51.3%	47.9%
Black	12,379	11,947	37.7%	38.5%
Hispanic	2,376	2,407	7.2%	7.8%
Asian	588	692	1.8%	2.2%
Multiracial	521	971	1.6%	3.1%
Native American/Other	130	142	0.4%	0.5%

Opelika, Alabama has an estimated population of 32,820, an increase from the 30,995 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 51.3% White, 37.7% Black, 7.2% Hispanic, 1.8% Asian, 1.6% Multiracial, and 0.4% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Opelika, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Opelika has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably more diverse than Alabama overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Opelika, that probability was 61.5% in 2020 and 58.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Opelika is ranked the 17th most populous place in Alabama, out of 594 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Opelika was ranked the 18th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Opelika's White Population

16,826 residents of Opelika, or 51.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Opelika is considerably lower than in Alabama overall, where 63.4% of the population is White. Opelika ranks 480th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Opelika's White population has grown by an estimated 13.4%. White residents' share of Opelika's population has increased from 47.9% to 51.3%.

Opelika is less White than neighboring Auburn (65.7% White), Cusseta (85.8% White), Waverly (94.9% White), Loachapoka (65.9% White), and Huguley (82.4% White).

Opelika's Black Population

12,379 residents of Opelika, or 37.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Opelika is considerably higher than in Alabama overall, where 25.6% of the population is Black. Opelika ranks 133rd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Opelika's Black population has grown by an estimated 3.6%. Black residents' share of Opelika's population has decreased from 38.5% to 37.7%.

Opelika is more Black than neighboring Auburn (17% Black), Cusseta (0% Black), Waverly (0% Black), Loachapoka (17% Black), and Huguley (15.8% Black).

Opelika's Asian Population

588 residents of Opelika, or 1.8% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Opelika is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. Opelika ranks 33rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Opelika's Asian population has declined by an estimated 15.0%. Asian residents' share of Opelika's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.8%.

Opelika is more Asian than neighboring Waverly (0% Asian), Loachapoka (0.9% Asian), and Huguley (0% Asian). Opelika is less Asian than neighboring Auburn (8.5% Asian), and Cusseta (2% Asian).

Opelika's Hispanic Population

2,376 residents of Opelika, or 7.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Opelika is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 5.6% of the population is Hispanic. Opelika ranks 65th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Opelika's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 1.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Opelika's population has decreased from 7.8% to 7.2%.

Opelika is more Hispanic than neighboring Auburn (5.4% Hispanic), Waverly (0% Hispanic), and Huguley (0% Hispanic). Opelika is less Hispanic than neighboring Cusseta (12.2% Hispanic), and Loachapoka (9% Hispanic).

Opelika's Native American/Other Population

130 residents of Opelika, or 0.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Opelika is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Opelika ranks 379th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Opelika's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 8.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Opelika's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Opelika is more Native American/Other than neighboring Cusseta (0% Native American/Other), Loachapoka (0% Native American/Other), and Huguley (0% Native American/Other). Opelika is less Native American/Other than neighboring Auburn (0.7% Native American/Other), and Waverly (0.6% Native American/Other).

Opelika's Multiracial Population

521 residents of Opelika, or 1.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Opelika is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 3.3% of the population is Multiracial. Opelika ranks 356th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Opelika's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 46.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Opelika's population has decreased from 3.1% to 1.6%.

Opelika is more Multiracial than neighboring Cusseta (0% Multiracial). Opelika is less Multiracial than neighboring Auburn (2.7% Multiracial), Waverly (4.4% Multiracial), Loachapoka (7.2% Multiracial), and Huguley (1.9% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.