Opelika receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Opelika
Dickson
Opportunity
71 · Top 21%
vs71 · Top 21%
Growth
91 · Top 1%
vs68 · Top 20%
Climate
72 · Top 43%
vs76 · Top 26%
Physical resilience
67 · Top 40%
vs63 · Top 46%
Housing affordability
92 · Top 27%
vs86 · Top 41%
Access
62 · Bottom 8%
vs76 · Bottom 18%
Economic stability
43 · Bottom 21%
vs58 · Bottom 45%
Measured values
| Metric | Opelika | Dickson | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,820 | 16,424 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,004 | $69,678 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,177 | $37,285 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 534/sq mi | 800/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $241,800 | $292,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $950 | $1,063 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.1% | 61.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 3.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.1% | -0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.4% | 17.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.0% | 12.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,009 | 136 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 30.7 | 8.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 116.5% | -52.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 38°F | 28°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.8" | 54.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 64 mi | 39 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 30.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.9 | 33.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 7 | 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
Opelika
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Dickson
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, strong wind.
Full profiles: Opelika, AL · Dickson, TN · How this is calculated: methodology