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Living in
Auburn.
About
Life in Auburn
If you're considering Auburn, you're looking at a place where Auburn University's 31,500 students genuinely shape daily life—that's not a drawback, just reality. The job market is solid with low unemployment around 2.8% and a decent median household income of $63,668, though the university's presence means many households skew younger and less traditional. Housing is reasonable compared to many college towns—median home values around $364,800 and rent averaging $1,098 monthly—but expect continued growth pressure as the metro area expands.
Auburn at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
25.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
25.4%
Foreign-Born
10.7%
Broadband Internet
91.6%
of households
Population Growth
+11.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.7% foreign-born, most often from Korea
Who lives in Auburn: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Auburn, the largest foreign-born group is from Korea (27.9%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.3%
of residents
65 and Older
9.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.3%
of households
Married Couples
39.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.45
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 9% above AL average
Rent, home values, and income in Auburn
In Auburn, rent runs 9% above the AL average, and home values are 74% above the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
37.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
87.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,668
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2001
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $421,396 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AL
Unemployment in Auburn
Unemployment in Auburn is close to the AL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Auburn Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.9 min avg
How Auburn residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Auburn, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 32 mi
Columbus Airport (CSG)
Regional airport · few flights43k passengers boarded in 2025
- 94 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 70% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Auburn runs 70% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
99.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
871.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Auburn Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
79.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lee County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lee County, which includes Auburn, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 7 | Flash Flood | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
| 2022 | 4 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 7 | Hail | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lee County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Russell County, AL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 28 miles from Auburn) is typically good — 223 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
223
per year
Moderate Days
58
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Russell County, AL (28 mi away)
Climate88°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Auburn has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
75°/52°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
54.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.7"
Hot Days/Year
49
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
44
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
118
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 35°F | 5.31" |
| Feb | 61°F | 39°F | 5.14" |
| Mar | 68°F | 45°F | 5.74" |
| Apr | 75°F | 51°F | 4.79" |
| May | 81°F | 60°F | 3.95" |
| Jun | 87°F | 68°F | 5.74" |
| Jul | 89°F | 71°F | 4.83" |
| Aug | 88°F | 71°F | 4.31" |
| Sep | 84°F | 66°F | 3.49" |
| Oct | 75°F | 54°F | 3.38" |
| Nov | 65°F | 43°F | 4.20" |
| Dec | 58°F | 38°F | 5.61" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Auburn
Uninsured
6.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Auburn's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
The East Alabama Healthcare Authority
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Opelika
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Auburn
Auburn's student/teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 64.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
64.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Auburn
Public · 4-year · 26,816 students · in-state tuition $13,318 · 79% graduate · median earnings $73,273 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Auburn
Auburn has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayTuskegee Institute National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
29 mi awayFreedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
75 mi awayJimmy Carter National Historical Park
National Historical Park
75 mi awaySelma To Montgomery National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
76 mi awayAndersonville National Historic Site
National Historic Site
84 mi awayBirmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Auburn
Auburn Public Library
749 East Thach Ave, Auburn
Cities Near Auburn
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Auburn?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Auburn FAQ
Is Auburn, Alabama affordable?⌄
Auburn's median rent is $1,098/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $63,668/year. Median home value is $364,800.
Is Auburn, Alabama safe?⌄
Auburn's violent crime rate was 99 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 871 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Auburn, Alabama?⌄
Auburn has an unemployment rate of 2.6%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Auburn, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Auburn is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,098/month and median household income is $63,668/year. The median home value is $364,800. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Auburn, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Auburn is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from