Auburn-Opelika receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Auburn-Opelika
Champaign-Urbana
Opportunity
72 · Top 20%
vs52 · Bottom 42%
Growth
91 · Top 1%
vs77 · Top 9%
Climate
69 · Top 41%
vs60 · Bottom 25%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 30%
vs68 · Top 33%
Housing affordability
87 · Bottom 29%
vs97 · Top 43%
Access
68 · Bottom 34%
vs81 · Top 40%
Economic stability
30 · Bottom 20%
vs43 · Bottom 40%
Measured values
| Metric | Auburn-Opelika | Champaign-Urbana | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 199,825 | 238,842 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $63,649 | $65,528 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,042 | $38,775 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 164/sq mi | 124/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $247,500 | $201,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,026 | $1,043 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.9% | 57.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.1% | -0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.4% | 43.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.4% | 17.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,452 | 2,005 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 12.3 | 8.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 39.3% | 177.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 52 mi | 37 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 19.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.1 | 32.0 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Auburn-Opelika
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Champaign-Urbana
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Auburn-Opelika
69
Your Score
74
Area Score
Champaign-Urbana
68
Your Score
68
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Auburn-Opelika, AL Metro Area · Champaign-Urbana, IL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology