Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Opelika, AL has a Safety Score of 16/100 — higher crime than 84% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,184.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,486 of 2,971 US cities and #46 of 61 in Alabama.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Opelika, Alabama Safe?
Opelika, a historic railroad town in Lee County, sits near the fall line of the Appalachian foothills. It's home to the Museum of East Alabama, reflecting its deep Southern heritage.
Opelika has a safety score of 16/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,184.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Opelika ranks #46 out of 61 cities in Alabama and #2486 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 16th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 84% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Opelika is murder, at 8.7 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.
Year over year, Opelika's total crime rate decreased by 9.9%, with violent crime declining 19.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Opelika Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 193 | 560.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 3 | 8.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 17 | 49.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 19 | 55.2 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 154 | 447.1 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 904 | 2,624.3 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 71 | 206.1 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 764 | 2,217.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 69 | 200.3 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Opelika vs Alabama Average
How does Opelika's crime rate compare to the Alabama state average?
| Metric | Opelika | Alabama Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 560.3 | 510.3 | +9.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,624.3 | 2,259.4 | +16.1% |
| Murder Rate | 8.7 | 13.1 | -33.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,184.5 | 2,769.7 | +15.0% |
Opelika Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Opelika, Alabama.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 34,448 | 3,184.5 | 560.3 | 2,624.3 |
| 2023 | 33,681 | 3,536.1 | 697.7 | 2,838.4 |
| 2022 | 32,010 | 3,627.0 | 849.7 | 2,777.3 |
| 2021 | 31,644 | 3,748.0 | 714.2 | 3,033.8 |
| 2020 | 31,437 | 2,258.5 | 353.1 | 1,905.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Opelika, Alabama safe?
Opelika has a safety score of 16/100, meaning it has less crime than about 16% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,184.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Opelika is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Opelika, Alabama?
According to FBI data for 2024, Opelika has a violent crime rate of 560.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,624.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Opelika compare to the national average?
Opelika's total crime rate of 3,184.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 34,448 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Opelika?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Opelika include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Opelika safe to visit?
Like any city, Opelika has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 16/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.