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
Lafayette-West Lafayette
Auburn-Opelika
Opportunity
74 · Top 17%
vs72 · Top 20%
Growth
62 · Top 31%
vs91 · Top 1%
Climate
62 · Bottom 34%
vs69 · Top 41%
Physical resilience
81 · Top 13%
vs69 · Top 30%
Housing affordability
85 · Bottom 26%
vs87 · Bottom 29%
Access
64 · Bottom 27%
vs68 · Bottom 34%
Economic stability
53 · Top 48%
vs30 · Bottom 20%
Measured values
| Metric | Lafayette-West Lafayette | Auburn-Opelika | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 226,805 | 199,825 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,011 | $63,649 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,768 | $35,042 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 138/sq mi | 164/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $226,100 | $247,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,107 | $1,026 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.0% | 65.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.7% | 0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.0% | 40.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 19.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,868 | 2,452 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.2 | 12.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -50.7% | 39.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 65 mi | 52 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 24.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 30.8 | 34.1 | 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
Lafayette-West Lafayette
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Auburn-Opelika
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Lafayette-West Lafayette
69
Your Score
72
Area Score
Auburn-Opelika
69
Your Score
74
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Metro Area · Auburn-Opelika, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology