Performance
Score Breakdown
Homewood
Opelika
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Homewood is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
4% lower compared to Opelika.
Housing costs are a major driver: Homewood's average rent is
22% lower than Opelika's.
| Metric | Homewood | Opelika | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,400 | $1,800 | -22% |
| Groceries | $440 | $450 | -2% |
| Utilities | $275 | $180 | +53% |
| Transport | $80 | $300 | -73% |
| Healthcare | $625 | $200 | +213% |
| Monthly Total | $2,820 | $2,930 | -4% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Homewood offers 39% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Homewood delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Homewood is estimated at
$55,000 vs $72,000 in Opelika.
| Metric | Homewood | Opelika |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,695 | $47,102 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $72,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 71,408 idx | 51,198 idx |
| Household Income | $94,485 | $65,004 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Homewood | Opelika |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 72.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Homewood has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Opelika.
Homewood scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Homewood leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Homewood | Opelika |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 30.0/10 | 20.0/10 |
| Walkability | 65.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 70.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Opelika is the larger city
— approximately 0.8x the population of Homewood.
From a growth perspective, Homewood is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Homewood has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Homewood | Opelika |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,830 | 33,944 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.80% | 1.70% |
| Median Age | 29.0 | 39.9 |
| Unemployment | 2.10% | 2.30% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Homewood
Advantages
Homewood offers a high quality of life with a strong community feel and excellent local amenities.
The city boasts a low unemployment rate of 2.1% as of April 2026, indicating a robust job market.
Homewood provides convenient access to major employment centers and top-tier healthcare facilities in downtown Birmingham.
The overall cost of living is lower than the national average, despite higher housing costs compared to the broader metro area.
Homewood is noted for its walkability, allowing residents to access many local amenities on foot.
Drawbacks
Housing costs in Homewood are significantly higher than in other parts of the Birmingham metropolitan area.
The city exhibits high car dependency, with 82% of residents using personal vehicles for commuting.
Public transportation options are limited, with only 1% of residents relying on public transit.
Major traffic congestion can be an issue on key routes like US-280, impacting commute times.
The median household income saw a 12.8% decline in 2024, despite a high average household income.
Opelika
Advantages
The overall cost of living in Opelika is 8% lower than the national average, making it an affordable place to reside.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the national average, with the median home price at $330,000 as of May 2026.
The average commute time is 22.1 minutes, which is shorter than the national average, contributing to a more relaxed daily life.
East Alabama Medical Center provides comprehensive and award-winning healthcare services, ensuring good access to quality medical care.
Opelika has a low unemployment rate of 2.3% as of April 2026, indicating a strong job market.
Drawbacks
Opelika is a car-dependent city with a walkability score of 0, meaning most errands require a vehicle.
Public transportation options are limited, primarily consisting of on-demand services, which may not suit all residents.
Some sources indicate elevated crime rates, particularly property crime, which can be a concern for residents.
Utility costs can be slightly higher than the national average, impacting monthly budgets.
Despite a growing population, the employed population saw a slight decline in 2024, suggesting potential challenges in job growth in some sectors.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Homewood
#3Alabama, USA
78.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,400
Avg Salary
$65,695
Cost Index
92
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
30.0/10
Walkability
65.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.80%
Unemployment
2.10%
Livability
82
Business
75
Opelika
#16Alabama, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,800
Avg Salary
$47,102
Cost Index
92
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
20.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.70%
Unemployment
2.30%
Livability
65
Business
65
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