36801 and 36804 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
36801
36804
Opportunity
69 · Top 22%
vs68 · Top 23%
Growth
92 · Top 1%
vs92 · Top 1%
Climate
72 · Top 43%
vs72 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
68 · Top 39%
vs66 · Top 41%
Housing affordability
91 · Top 29%
vs94 · Top 23%
Access
63 · Bottom 8%
vs63 · Bottom 8%
Economic stability
37 · Bottom 15%
vs42 · Bottom 21%
Measured values
| Metric | 36801 | 36804 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,438 | 20,535 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,414 | $61,880 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,897 | $33,645 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 325/sq mi | 104/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $234,600 | $218,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $932 | $824 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.2% | 78.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.1% | 0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.7% | 31.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.0% | 14.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,009 | 1,009 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 30.7 | 30.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 116.5% | 116.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 38°F | 38°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.8" | 48.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 65 mi | 63 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 26.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.6 | 40.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 5 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.94 | 14.49 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 71.2% | 58.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
36801
Elevated or high exposure: lightning.
36804
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: 36801 — Opelika, AL · 36804 — Opelika, AL · How this is calculated: methodology